The Military Sealift Command (MSC) has drafted a plan to sideline the crews of 17 Navy support ships due to a shortage of qualified mariners, USNI News reports. The move comes as the Navy struggles to maintain a sustainable workforce to operate these vital vessels, reports U.S. Naval Institute News (USNI).

Dubbed informally as “the great reset,” the MSC’s “force generation reset” plan would see two Lewis and Clark-class replenishment ships, one fleet oiler, a dozen Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF), and two forward-deployed Navy expeditionary sea bases placed into an “extended maintenance” period. This plan aims to reassign their crews to other ships in the fleet.

According to sources familiar with the plan, the reduction of ships could decrease civilian mariner demand by up to 700 billets, easing the strain on the MSC’s workforce. This proposal is currently awaiting approval from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

The MSC, responsible for refueling and resupplying Navy ships worldwide, operates a fleet of logistics ships crewed by approximately 5,500 civilian mariners. However, the ratio of mariners to billets, which stands at 1.27 mariners per billet, has proven unsustainable. This ratio requires mariners to be at sea for extended periods, often resulting in a poor work-life balance and difficulty taking adequate leave.

One former MSC mariner described the situation as untenable, noting that the current ratio forces mariners to spend four months at sea with only about a month of shore leave. This schedule leaves little time for rest, training, or personal life, contributing to high levels of burnout and attrition.

In contrast, commercial mariners typically work under union contracts that provide a more balanced schedule, with two mariners for every billet and a month of paid leave for every month spent at sea. Additionally, MSC mariners, unlike their commercial counterparts, are not paid for time off if they haven’t accrued sufficient leave.

The retention issue within the MSC has been exacerbated by stringent COVID-19 prevention measures, including the “gangway up” orders under retired MSC commander Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer. During the pandemic, mariners were confined to their ships for extended periods, leading to deteriorating working conditions and prompting many to leave their positions.

A retired MSC mariner recounted that mariners began quitting faster than the MSC could hire replacements, with many citing the poor work-life balance as the reason. Another former mariner shared that he left the service due to concerns about his family’s well-being, after witnessing older colleagues struggle with personal relationships.

If implemented, the “great reset” could free up between 600 to 700 mariners, allowing the MSC to increase its ratio to 1.5 mariners per billet. This would provide more time on shore for mariners and help the Navy crew newer support vessels, such as the John Lewis-class fleet oilers, which have yet to deploy due to crew shortages.

The decision to craft this plan stems from years of neglect and mismanagement, according to Sal Mercogliano, a former MSC mariner and associate professor of history at Campbell University. He emphasized that the MSC has been “burning through people” due to the demanding schedules and inadequate support.

The proposed sidelining of ships includes some high-visibility vessels, such as the forward-deployed expeditionary sea bases USS Lewis Puller (ESB-3) and USS Herschel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4). These ships, stationed in Bahrain and Greece, respectively, have been integral to U.S. operations in the Middle East and Africa, including anti-smuggling missions and regional patrols.

Additionally, the plan affects 12 active Spearhead-class EPFs, which have been used for outreach missions across the Pacific, Europe, and Africa. While two of these vessels, USNS Spearhead (EPF-1) and USNS Choctaw County (EPF-2), have already been sidelined, others are returning to the U.S. despite having significant service life remaining.

The MSC’s proposal to remove crews from 17 Navy support ships reflects the ongoing challenges of maintaining a qualified and sustainable maritime workforce. As the Navy awaits a decision from Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the fate of these vessels and their crews remains uncertain. If approved, the “great reset” could provide much-needed relief to mariners while ensuring that the Navy’s logistics fleet remains operational in the years to come.