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Strategic Sealift Officer Force (SSOF)

MISSION

The Strategic Sealift Officer Force (SSOF) shall provide warfare qualified Navy Reserve Officers with civilian Merchant Mariner credentials and military training to support the activation, operation, and sustainment of the United States organic Sealift fleet, in contested environments, and in support of Maritime Domain Operations and the Maritime Industrial Base throughout the continuum of conflict.

Background

In 1973 the Navy Reserve Merchant Marine program was re-established to, “provide a continuing source of well-qualified Merchant Marine officer whose professional naval development within the program will enhance the Merchant Marine-Navy coordination in time of peace, national emergency, or war.” – OPNAVNOTE 5440 29 May 1973

The Navy Reserve Merchant Marine Program became the Strategic Sealift Officer Force in 2011 to provide the Navy with assured manpower of properly credentialed Merchant Mariners with military training to support the operation and sustainment of Strategic Sealift.

SSOs are graduates of federal or state maritime academies who possess Unlimited Merchant Mariner credentials to operate commercial vessels and are trained as warfighters to operate in an increasingly contested maritime environment.

To review more of the SSOF capabilities, click here.

COMMAND AND CONTROL

The SSOF are Navy Reserve Officers in the Strategic Sealift Readiness Group (SSRG) of the Individual Ready Reserve and Selected Reserve (SELRES) officers attached to other Navy deployable units.
The SSRG is administratively controlled (ADCON) by Commander Navy Reserve Forces (CNRFC N14). CNRFC N14 is the SSO Virtual Navy Reserve Activity responsible for mobilization readiness. Officers needing to update readiness issues, submit for points or claims or are having NMCI access issues need to access here.
Click here to access the N14 Sharepoint Page

The SSRG is operationally controlled (OPCON) by Military Sealift Command. The SSOF Director is the Senior Leader of the force, tasked with community leadership, career guidance and developing, training and employing the SSRG in the execution of their mobilization mission. Officers needing to complete yearly Active Duty for Training, seeking career development guidance, want Long Term order, or need to engage with their command and control structure shall contact the SSOF Director’s office here.
Click here to access the SSOF Directors Page

SELRES SSOs are managed through their assigned Navy Reserve Center (NRC) and separate Active Component.

INSTRUCTIONS
- OPNAVINST 1534.1E
- RESPERSMAN

SSOF News
- N14 NEWSFLASH
- Annual Reports
  - 2022 Annual Report
  - 2021 Annual Report

NAVY LINKS

Become an SSO
To find out more on how to become a Strategic Sealift Officer, please visit the US Merchant Marine Academy and State Maritime Academy websites below. Certain civilians with Merchant Mariner credentials can direct commission (DCO) as SSOs. To check on available DCO quotas please contact your nearest Navy Reserve recruiter.

US Merchant Marine Academy: United States Merchant Marine Academy (usmma.edu)

SUNY Maritime College: Home | SUNY Maritime College

Maine Maritime Academy: https://mainemaritime.edu

Massachusetts Maritime Academy: Homepage | Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Great Lakes Maritime Academy: https://www.nmc.edu/maritime/

California Maritime Academy: Cal Maritime Home (csum.edu)

Texas A&M Maritime Academy: Texas A&M Maritime Academy - Texas A&M Galveston, TX (tamug.edu)

Find your local Navy Reserve Recruiter (Direct Commissions): United States Navy Recruiting | Navy.com and click on CONTACT US, to find a Recruiter.