Operation Iraqi Freedom

..II
M
ilitary Sealift Commander Vice
Admiral David L. Brewer III recently
told a maritimegatheringthat "the history
of the MSC would not be possiblewithout
the U.S. MerchantMarine," and that the
"historyof the United Statescould have
been very differentif it were not for our
civilian sailors."The MEBA ensuredthat
Admiral Brewerwouldn'tfind out the
alternaterealityto that statementas our
marinersonce againhelpedput our fighting forcesin a posirionof powerduring
OperationIraqi Freedom(OIF).
marinerworkforceis still managingto get
the job done when our countryneedsus
most. For what essentiallybroke downto
a three-weekwar,the massiveresources
employedand the unparalleledteamwork
betweenlabor,managementand
Governmentwasnothing shortof phenomenal.A protractedpetiod of hostilities maywell have testedboth the depths
of the nation'smanpowerpool and the
ability of a fadedcommercialmaritime
powerto replicatethe successes
of past
maritime deployments.As it was,MEBA
toppled everyobstaclein the wayand
more than satisfiedeverygovernment
requirementen route to a sterling sealift
successstory.
MEBAAnswers America's Call
Thoughthe maritime industryhas takena
decideddownswingsincethe heydaysfollowing World War II, the dwindling U.S.
(Above) Aboard the CAPE RACE, an RRF
Most of our armedforceswerewhisked
into the Gulf regionby air,but few
Americansrealizethat over85
percentof military equipment
and suppliestook a waterborne
journeyinto the war zone.At
last count, MEBA officerswere
deliveringkey supportto our military
aboard26 civilian mannedMSC auxiliary
shipsand specialmissionvessels,three
commercially-operated
prepositioning
vesselscharteredby MSC, and 10 MSC
LargeMediumSpeedRoll-On/Roll-Off
(LMSR)shipsthat took part in Operation
Iraqi Freedom.MEBA Officerswere also
servingon 23 ReadyReserveForce (RRF)
vesselsand a continuallyswellinglist of
commercialshipscharteredto carrymilitary cargo,humanitarianand reconstruction aid as part of OIF.
Alreadyrequiredto obtain a lengthy
seriesof certificationsand licensingin
their rolesasmarine officers,mariners
were subjectto additionalrequirementsto
sailas part of OperationIraqi Freedom.
MSC necessitatesthat marinersbe certified in ChemicalBiological,and
RadiologicalDefense(CBR-D) -to help
them defendagainstattacksutilizing
weaponsof massdestruction.MEB.A:.s
CalhoonMEBA EngineeringSchoolin
Easton,MD certifiesmembersip such
training and SchoolDirectorJoyce
Matthewssenta pair of instructors(Barry
Van Vechtenand Rick Simonson)on the
road at the requestof MSC to certify
boatloadsof seafarersgetting readyto sail
into the war zone.MEB.A:.s
Patrolmanin
SeattleMike Jewell,who is part of the
U.S. MerchantMarine Naval Reserve
Program,alsotrained manya marinerin
vessel that recently returned from its
service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Left
(At left) MEBAOfficers aboard the SIS MAJ
to right is Baltimore
STEPHEN
W. PLESS.Theship carries U.S. mili-
Branch Agent Bill
Van Loo, 3rd AlE Mike Cedrone, Capt.
tary cargo for the U.S. Marine Corps and Air
Pat Wright, 2nd Mate Mike Bird and 2nd
Force. Left to right is 3rd AlE Chris Sterling, 2nd
AlE Dick Mathews.
AlE DaveTrovatoand 1st AlE William Paddie.
B
April/May
2003
Marine
Officer
CBR-D. MEBA Officers aboardthe RRF
and on deck. MEBA-contractedcompashipsand LMSRsbecameusedto toting
niesmanagingthe shipsinclude Keystone,
their gasmasksaround with them wherMarine TransportLines,Mormac and
ever they went on the ship, an experience Patriot ContractServices.Upon receiving
that their counterpartsaboardthe MSC
the word from MarAd officialsin early
Auxiliary/SpecialMissionshipsare used
Januarythat scoresof RRF shipswere
to in their perennialsupportto the U.S.
being activatedinto Full OperatingStatus
Navy fleet.
(FOS), MEBA officialsleaptinto action
by getting the shipscrewedwithin 24
Another requirementof OIF wasthe
hours. That dedicationand resolvewas
DefenseDepartmentstipulation that all
matchedby MEBA Brothersand Sisters
marinerssailinginto "high-threat areas"
who shifted their schedulesto set sail
be inoculated againstboth Smallpoxand
with little notice on behalfof Union and
Anthrax. Although the logisticalentancountry."The laborunionshavedefiniteglementscreatedby that requirementinily come throughto manthesevesselson
tially causedconcernsin both governshortnotice," Maritime Administrator
ment and on the labor side,the process
Schubertdeclared.
went remarkablywell for the MEBA. Our
men and womensailing in supportof our
In mid-April, BrigadierGeneralHenry
nation and carryingthe MEBA banner
Taylorspeakingbeforea maritimeindustry
are a continuing sourceof pride.
group,marveledoverthe extraordinary
stateof readinessof thesemarinersand
ReadyReserveForce (RRF):
their abilityto sailso quickly afterthe
word "go!" wasgiven. He praisedthe close
relationshipbetweenthe military and civilian transportationindustriessayingthat
this synergywill continueto be the "key to
our success"well into the future.
MSC Large, Medium-Speed,
Roll-OnjRoll-Off (LMSR)
Vessels:Ship of Choice
Constructedfollowing glaringneeds
detectedduring the first Gulf War,
MEBA crewsten LMSRs under our contract with ASM/Patriot with an eleventh
newbuild due to enter the fleet this
Summer.The 950-footRO/ROs transport
immenseshiploadsof military armaments
and have proved wildly successful
throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Military Traffic ManagementCommand
BrigadierGeneralBarbaraDoomink
recentlycalled the LMSRsthe "ship of
choice" during OlE
Fleet Readyto Go
Owned by the Maritime Administration,
the roughly six dozenvesselsof the Ready
ReserveForcefleet are normally kept in
ReducedOperatingStatus (ROS) at ports
aroundthe country waiting for the dayto
roar into action. Once the Defense
Departmentgivesthe 'go' signal,the
Military SealiftCommandassumes
operational control of the vesselswhich are
deployedto boost our sealiftcapabilities
overseas.
In Operation Iraqi Freedom,21 of the
first 25 RRF shipssentinto actionwere
MEBA contractedvesselscrewedby
MEBA officersin both the engineroom
LMSR USNS PILILAAU loading military cargo at the Port of Beaumont, TX in support of OIF. (Photo
courtesy of CjE Phil Blaha)
Marine
Officer
April/May
2003
9
ACTIVATION
With more than 380,000squarefeet of
cargo-carryingspaceaboard (over eight
football fields), eachshipcan harbor an
entire Army task force,including over
100tanks and track vehicles,more than
900 trucks and other equipmentincluding
helicopters,artillery and other military
hardware.
GeneralHandypointed out that MEBA
and our nation'smariners"perpetuate
that sterling legacyof service,patriotism,
and bravery.Youhave our greatestrespect
and admiration.We saluteyou with pride
as you provide combatpowerto our war
fighters at this critical momentin our
nation'shistory."
Vice Admiral Brewerechoedthose
remarksand praisedthe Merchant
Marine'simportanceto our nationalsecurity in both peaceand~war."In everywar,
in everyinstance,"he declared,the
mantraof the MerchantMarine is broadcastloud and clear,"We'll deliver!"
MSC Naval Fleet Auxiliary
Force Vesselsand Special
Mission Ships: Keeping the
Navyon the Move
1st AlE Dave Andersen welding a machine gun
mount on deck of the CAPE RAY for force protection while sailing in support of OIF.
Calhoon School Instructors
Rick Simonson (I)
and Barry Van Vechten (R) helped certify
mariners in required CBR-D training both at the
School and aboard activated RRF ships getting
ready to sail into the war lone.
10
April/May
2003
Marine
Officer
"GuardianMariners"aboardsuchships
headinginto the PersianGulf region. In
all, CIVMARs aboard26 vesselsin the
fleet mannedby MEBA Officershelped
keepour Navy at full fighting force during
OperationIraqi Freedom.
Early on in the action, MSC Vice Admiral
David Brewer III assertedthat, "When the
people of Iraq are finally liberated, our civilian mariners will have played a vital role in
delivering them their freedom via MSC
ships that literally formed a steelbtidge of
democracyfrom the United States to Iraq.
We deliver more than just cargo," he pointed out, "we deliver freedom."
MSC Prepositioning Vessels:
First Out of the Gate
MSC's Afloat PrepositioningProgram
enablesour military to get a leg up in the
(Below) The USNS TIPPECANOE, one of the MSC
oilers in the Naval Force Auxiliary Fleet, gets
More than half of the roughlyforty auxiliary and specialmissionshipsof the MSC
crewedby MEBA civilian mariners
(CIVMARs) weretappedfor key support
rolesin OperationIraqi Freedom.The
fleetincludesammunitionships,ocean
tugs,oilersand combatstoresvessels,
and
providesunderwayreplenishmentand crucial supportfor U.S. Navyshipsglobally.
Fromrefuelingat-seaNavy shipsand providing jet fuel for aircraft aboardcarriers
to extendingcritical care for our armed
servicesand civiliansaboardtwo hospital
ships,the civilian-mannedMSC vessels
keepthe Navy fleet at seaand mission
ready.Thesenon-combatantvesselscarry
no weaponssystems.However,during
OIF over 1,300Army reservistswere
deployedto the fleet to serveas
ready to perform underway replenishment
tions with a Navy ship sailing alongside.
opera-
11
ACTIVATION
earlystagesof a contingency.Stationed
aroundthe world, the vesselshelp transport military equipmentand suppliesto
the u.S. Army, Navy,Air Force,and
Marinesand allow them to put their systemsin placebeforethey are needed.
MEBA servesaboarda trio of thesecommercially-operatedPreposhipschartered
by the MSC from MEBA-contracted
WatermanSteamshipCorporationand
utilized in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Stationedin strategiclocationsaround
the world, they are maintainedin a high
stateof readinessin orderto deploywithin 24 hours toward contingencylocations.
The Commanderof the U.S.Transportation Command,GeneralJohnW Handy,
ascertainedthat, "onceagain,our nation
hasturnedto its merchantmarinersto
projectthis country'smightonto distant
(At right) MEBA Third Mate Mike Anderson carrying his gas mask with U.S. Army Capt. Jim
Riely, 4th Infantry Division, in Shuaiba,
during discharge.
Kuwait
Note part of CBR-D washdown
system rigged in the foreground.
shoresin orderto preserveourfreedoms
and wayof life." He noted that MEBA and
the nation'sseafaringworkforcehas
"answeredthe nation'scall,chargedthe
gangways
unhesitatinglyand,in record
time,ensuredour readiness
to surpassany
challengethat mightlie ahead!"
supportaslong asthe tools of our trade shipsand jobs -are there."
Commercial Vessels:Vital to
Our Strategic Goals
A steadilymounting numberof u.s.flaggedcommercialvesselsare hauling
MEBA PresidentRon Davisconfinned
cargoesthat figure into OperationIraqi
that, "throughoutthe Nation'slong history, Freedomand beyond.A numberof comour loyal U.S.-citizenmerchantmariners
mercialshipscontributed in the early
haveperfonnedvaliantlyon U.S.-flagmer- stagesof the war by hauling war materiel
chantshipsduringwarsand national
overseas.But with our strategicgoalsin
emergencies.
Our MerchantMarine has
sight,the participarionof thesevessels
beena key factor in everyconflict and
largelycirclesaroundshipmentsof reconcontingencysincethe American
structionand humanitarianaid. MEBA
Revolutionand we are proud of our parand other maririme interests,in an initiaticipation in the liberationof Iraq. Our
tive spearheaded
by the American
MerchantMarine hasalwaysbeenthere
Maritime Congress,workedtoward and
for our countryand we'll continue our
successfully
won Congressionalapproval
of languagestressingthe adherenceto
u.s. cargopreferencestatutesof a new
multi-billion wartime supplementalfunding bill that providesmoneyfor food and
reconstructionaid. Under U.S.cargopreferencelaws,100%of Departmentof
Defenseshipments,75%of food aid cargoesgeneratedby U.s. Agencyfor
International Development(AID) and
The MSC Combat Stores vessel USNS SPICA sailing in Greek waters opposite the Hospital ship USNS
COMFORT.
Marine
Officer
April
I May
2003
ACTIVATION
50% of all other AID cargoes(suchas
reconstructionmaterial)are requiredto
be transportedon U.S. flag ships.A bipartisan groupof lawmakers,fronted by Sen.
TedStevens(R-AK) and Sen. Mary
Landrieu (D-LA) helpedshepherdthat
provisionthroughCongressand onto the
President'sdeskwhere it waspromptly
signedinto law.
MEBA-contractedcommercialvessels
sailing in supportof the war effort and
subsequentfood and reconstructioncarriageinclude thoseoperatedby Central
Gulf, E-Ships,Liberty Maritime, OSG
Ship Management,MaerskLines
Ltd./USSM, Keystone,ASM, Horizon
Linesand WatermanSteamship,but the
list continuesto grow.
Most likely becauseof the lightning-quick
resolutionof the war,the Governmentdid
not invoke the full provisionsof the
Maritime SecurityProgram,however
manyshipsenrolled in MSP did (and
continue to) carry Governmentcargointo
the PersianGulf region.MSP makes47
militarily-usefulcommercialvesselsavailableto the Governmentfor usein times
of contingency.The Programhelps offset
the inequitiesthat raisecostsof doing
businessunderthe U.S.flag thus allowing
this fleet of shipsto continueflying the
Starsand Stripes.MSP hasallowedU.S.
flag bottomsto be availableto carry what
is a staggeringamountof food and reconstructionaid to Iraq.
MSP also helps preservea u.s. citizen
mariner base that was a key factor in the
availability of u.s. civilian sailors for the
Government vesselworkforce that sailed
in support of OlE In addition to the core
MEBA Officers maintaining the plants on
the nation's Ready ReserveForce vessels
and LMSRs that are normally berthed in
ROS,a slewof U.S.marinerswereneeded
to supplementthe vesselcrewswhen shifted into FOS.Programssuchasthe MSP
that help mushroomthe marinerpool are
top prioritiesfor the MSC and Maritime
Administration."In the wakeof September
11th,havingloyal Americancrewsis even
more crucialfrom a nationalsecurityperspective,"CaptainSchubertpointedout.
Vice Admiral Breweragreedand reiterated
that, "a healthyU.S.maritime industryis
not onlygoodfor our economy,it is critical
to our nationaldefense."MSC isworking
closelywith MarAd in searchof solutions
to preserveand further expandour critical
marinerbase.
But evenas Admiral Brewerfretted over
the stateof our seagoingworkforcehe
beamedwith pride ashe admitted that
one concernhe doesnot have is our
mariners'willingnessto serve."They are
hard-working,dedicatedAmericanswho
love our country and are intrinsically
patriotic." U.S. civilian sailors"are indeed
a vital part of our nation'sarmedservices," Admiral Brewerproclaimed. X
MEBA officers
transport
aboard the LMSR USNS PILILAAU
massive amounts of military equip-
Left to right are 2nd AlE Witold Szyfter,3rd AlE
Members gather on deck of the "mother of all RO/ROs," the RRF ship COMET, managed by Mormac
Keith Turcotte, 1st AlE Gerald Murphy and 3rd
Marine.
AlE Chris O'Sullivan. Chief Engineer Phil Blaha
Left to right are MEBA members CIE Pat Funk, 31M Colin Vogel, 31M Jim Christian, 21M
Sean Bogus and 3rd AlE Jerod White. CIM
Dave Campbell took the photo.
1~
Officer
April/May
2003
Marine
took the photo.
ACTIVATION
MSC NFAF VESSELS
USNS ARCTIC FastCombatSupportShip
USNS BIG HORN -Oiler
USNS CATAWBA -Ocean Tug
USNS COMFORT -Hospital Ship
USNS FLINT -Ammunition
USNS GUADALUPE -Oiler
USNS JOHN ERICSSON-Oiler
USNS JOHN LENTHALL -Oiler
USNS KANAWHA -Oiler
USNS KILAUEA -Ammunition
USNS KISKA -Ammunition
USNS LARAMIE -Oiler
USNS LEROY GRUMMAN -Oiler
USNS MOHAWK -Ocean Tug
USNSM1: BAKER -Ammunition
USNS NIAGARA FALLS CombatStores
USNS PATUXENT- Oiler
USNS PECOS-Oiler
USNS RAPPAHANNOCK -Oiler
USNS SATURN -Combat Stores
USNS SHASTA -Ammunition
USNS SIRIUS -Combat Stores
USNS SPICA -Combat Stores
USNS TIPPECANOE -Oiler
USNS YUKON -Oiler
MN CAPE HORN -
S/SCOMET -Roll-0n/Roll-0ff Ship
Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE HUDSON Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE KENNEDY Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE KNOX Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE ORLANDO Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE RACE Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE RAY -Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE RISE -Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE TAYLORRoll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE TEXAS Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE TRINITY -
MSC LMSRs (MANAGED BY
ASM/PATRIOT)
USNS BOB HOPE
USNS BRITTIN
USNS FISHER
USNS GILLILAND
USNS GORDON
USNS MENDONCA
USNS PILILMU
USNS SEAY
USNSSHUGHART
USNS YANO
MARITIME PREPOSITIONING
VESSELS (CHARTERED BY MSC
FROM WATERMAN)
SS SGTMATE] KOCAK Container& RoII-On/Roll-Off Ship
SSPFCEUGENEA. OBREGONContainer& Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
SSMA] STEPHEN\Xl:PLESSContainer& Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE VICTORY Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE VINCENT Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
GTS ADM. WM. M. CALLAGHAN Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
S/SCAPE GIBSON -Modular Cargo
DeliverySystem(MCDS) Vessel
READY RESERVE FORCE (RRF)
FLEET VESSELS
MN CAPE DECISION Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE DIAMOND Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE DOMINGO Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE DOUGLAS Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE DUCATO Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE EDMONT Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
MN CAPE HENRY Roll-On/Roll-Off Ship
The
of
Central
ships
car/truck
crews
to
Gulf
vessel
GREEN
supporting
OIF
carrier
enrolled
be
available
to
by
LAKE
is
transporting
in
support
the
one
of
the
U.S.
commercial
vessels
in
military/humanitarian/reconstruction
Maritime
the
war
Security
Program
a
steadily
aid.
(MSP).
MSP
has
enabled
growing
GREEN
U.S.
LAKE
:'
list
is
a
~~"
effort.
Marine
Officer
April I May 2003
13