# Merchant Marine Reserve Program becomes Strategic Sealift Officer Program

**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/merchant-marine-reserve-program-becomes-strategic-sealift-officer-program/5761
**Category:** Merchant Marine Reserve
**Created:** [June 16, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/merchant-marine-reserve-program-becomes-strategic-sealift-officer-program/5761 "2011-06-16T19:32:18Z")
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### Author: ![supbrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@supbrow](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/supbrow)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/merchant-marine-reserve-program-becomes-strategic-sealift-officer-program/5761/1 "2011-06-16T19:32:18Z")

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16  
Merchant Marine Reserve Program becomes Strategic Sealift Officer Program  
By: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Strategic Mobility and Combat  
Logistics Division  
WASHINGTON (NNS) – After extensive coordination with several Navy  
organizations and the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Deputy Chief of  
Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics approved revisions to the  
latest CNO Instruction (OPNAVINST 1534.lD) transitioning the Merchant Marine  
Reserve (MMR) Program into the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP) on  
June 10.  
The SSOP supports national defense sealift requirements and capabilities,  
which are executed by Military Sealift Command (MSC). The program provides  
the Navy with officers that possess sealift, maritime operations, and  
logistics subject matter expertise, and further hold U.S. Coast Guard  
credentials as merchant marine officers.  
“These changes will help align and improve support to Military Sealift  
Command and numerous other Joint and Navy commands,” said Vice Adm. Bill  
Burke, Deputy CNO for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, who is the SSOP program  
sponsor. "This revision improves stewardship, integration, and  
opportunities for about 2,400 Navy Reserve officers."  
The SSOP, like the old MMR Program, will continue to provide the capability  
for emergency crewing of sealift ships and shoreside support to Navy  
commands that require unique maritime expertise. Further, this change  
provides opportunities for greater operational support to the Navy by  
expanding selected reserve (SELRES) billets and active duty recalls to SSOP  
officers.  
“The improved program aligns strategic sealift officers under MSC to provide  
the best use for their training as both Navy officers and licensed Merchant  
Marine officers,” said Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, MSC, who is Flag  
sponsor of the program. “It also expands training requirements to ensure  
that these officers are best ready for mobilization.”  
“Both the Navy and the officers in the SSOP will benefit from improvements  
such as increased opportunities to serve, better alignment of name to its  
military purpose, streamlining to a single designator, and improved training  
consistent with other Navy communities” said Rear Adm. Buzz Little,  
commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. "This new SSOP builds upon the  
tradition of the MMR, by becoming more ready, relevant, visible, and  
providing greater opportunities for service."  
For more information about the SSOP, please see OPNAVINST 1534.lD.

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