Military Sealift Command - What It's Like Now

Professional Mariner Forum
1

So I took the leap with a $68k signing bonus for a 3 year commitment, and signed on as 1st A/E approx. a year and a half ago. Here’s some of the things I have experienced and witnessed:

  1. By taking the 3 year sign on bonus, I cannot leave without paying back the entirety. Had I not taking the bonus, I would have received a 20% retention each pay period, with no requirements to remain at MSC. Had I taken the retention, I would have grossed $14k more than the bonus received (that was taxed at a 40% tax rate) over the same 3 year period.
  2. Detailers - are absolutely the most inefficient and laziest workforce in the whole of MSC. Unless it’s beneficial to them, you will have a hard time getting into contact or getting real answers. There is no disciplinary for lack of performance in their job so it appears nothing is going to ever change there.
  3. SF-50’s - When you get your orders to embark, there is a statement to allow up to two pay periods for your SF-50 to be updated. The SF-50 is what changes your pay from pool pay (while on leave or in the pool) to Day or Watch Pay. Doesn’t sound too bad until you receive 48% of your gross pay for 2-3 pay periods and then get the lump sum that is taxed to death there after. This is an epidemic throughout MSC and it’s blamed on DFAS, but the real issue is the detailers not putting in the change when the mariners embark. Ironically, the day you disembark the ship, your SF-50 is instantly downgraded to the lower pay scale (so explain how DFAS is the issue???).
  4. Reliefs - Still an issue with personnel not getting relieved on time, but again the issue should be pointed at lack of performance from the Detailers. I’ve personally see D-Machs red lining (getting paid off without a relief after being extended 60 days beyond), meanwhile there are D-Machs sitting in hotels for the West Coast pool for over a month. 3rd A/E’s seem to have the worst chance of getting relieved, and even the new 50% retention bonus isn’t helping.
  5. Contractors - are milking the taxpayer like crazy. MSC is paying a prime rate and getting treated like a red headed step child. Ships are being built and unable to perform for years, shipyard repairs are not getting done and being signed off as completed. An IG investigation would probably turn up a lot of politicians with stuffed pockets.
  6. Delays and C-4’s - very few ships are actually operational, especially the tankers. Currently only one operating on the West Coast. Kind of scary when you consider national defense. Even worse, doing UNREPS and watching approx 8/10 Navy ships having complications with just fueling. How are they to perform in a theatre of war when they can barely fuel?
  7. Wipers, OS and Steward’s Dept - apparently as a supervisor I am unfair and extinguish motivation by demanding personnel be in their workspaces performing work as compared to chilling in their rooms during work hours. Every form of disciplinary is countered with an EEO complaint and it’s embarrassing to admit you live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia due to the performance of the employees from there. The process to get personnel removed from the vessel is exhausting. An example - recently had a wiper fail two breathalyzers while on duty. Fortunately the Wiper faked a medical issue and left the vessel, but the Chief Engineer was getting negativity from office personnel because the Wiper wasn’t present for his evaluation. Also, MSC doesn’t notify the USCG when a mariner fails a drug test or breathalyzer, so the mariner ends up becoming a danger to him/herself and shipmates on another employer’s ship until they are discovered again.
  8. Travel Claims -Takes forever to get reimbursed and when you do, you need to hold on to all your claims, because you most assuredly will receive a debt letter later claiming you owe the money back. Again, trying to contact your Detailer or anyone in the office for help…good luck.

So that’s the sad state of affairs here currently, hopefully the Navy wakes up and contracts the work out and eliminates MSC in it’s useless entirety.

2

@Wasforkandblade, 3 questions.

So how has your schedule been last year & a half? Close to 2 for 1 or not? I have a freind who hired on with MSC in '23. His schedule is still lopsided but I’m pretty sure he prefers it that way.

Do you regret the move?

Do you see yourself sticking around after the 3 yr commitment?

3
  1. The schedule is 4 months on with 2 months of paid leave (annual and shore leave).
  2. I do not regret the move, I hate being a spectator in a theatre of system that accepts lack of interest and motivation.
  3. I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it. The only benefit after 3 years, will be a member of MEBA and open other doors. The other factor will be how the next two promotion boards go in October 26 and 27.
4

Man it’s discouraging to hear that nothing has changed with the Detailers. Same story nearly twenty years ago. I remember sitting in the pool for weeks as a 3A/E with several others, waiting on for an assignment, all while people we know are on ships weeks to months overdue for relief. Could never make it make sense.

For your #1 there, the schedule being 4 months on/2 months off…is that what you are actually working or is it like always where you work a minimum of 4, wait to be overdue no matter how many you work, then after just three and half weeks off the Detailer is telling you you’ll be AWOL if you don’t come back to the pool immediately?

5

Is that a criminal offense like in the military or just quitting like other mariners? I’ve heard a lot of bad stories about MSC over the years & wondered why crew returned after leave or just didn’t walk off if they were so unhappy.

7

Civmars are civilians so it means nothing other than you’re away without leave. If you’re a position they need and have experience they’re not going to fire you. They may kick and scream about you being gone but I have plenty of buddies who don’t give a crap about being AWOL.

8

No, not the same as military, not criminal, but any disciplinary actions will go against you during promotion boards. In a system based on points you don’t want negatives in your file or you’ll end up in purgatory . Many do just quit…eventually.

9

I have 22 years at MSC and can attest that everything stated above is true. After leaving for a 18 months I returned on the Mixed Work Schedule advertised as limiting my work to 180 days a year. Well I will reach that limit shortly and will see when I actually go home. Gave up the $64k bonus & retention for this privilege. Will likely have to fight to make it happen.

10

The limited amount of CIVMARS I knew who had the mixed work schedule still had to deal with overdue releifs and ended up working almost as long as a regular schedule without the benefits.

11

That was a fair explanation… those detailers though. I recall the last ship NOAA had a ‘purser’ on. things did get done there. one time i wanted off a ship real bad and asked the union folks who had what sounds like a detailer, and they didn’t do jack even though i knew of ships wanting another eng. … honestly, I don’t know who the H invented that position, what they do with their day, and if they’ve ever placed ANYONE aboard a ship ever. Maybe in the great cosmic hereafter they’ll have to trade places with a few of us for a while?