US Navy Reinforces Middle East Amid Iranian Threat, Sidelines 17 Vessels Due to Manpower Shortage

The U.S. Navy is reportedly set to sideline 17 vessels due to a manpower shortage that has made it challenging to properly crew and operate ships across the fleet. The shortage stems from a lack of Merchant Marines capable of keeping all the ships operational simultaneously, according to Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation for the Foundation for Defense of Democracy.

Impact on Naval Operations

Montgomery highlighted the operational challenges, explaining that the ships are deployed at sea away from their home port for 12 months of the year, requiring two crews for each vessel. Unfortunately, the current manpower levels are insufficient to meet this requirement, jeopardizing the Navy's capacity to operate effectively. He emphasized the danger to national security posed by the lack of experienced merchant mariners to crew the ships.

As part of a plan drafted by the Military Sealift Command, 17 ships are set to undergo "extended maintenance," which includes a redistribution of crews to other vessels across the Navy. This decision was reported by the U.S. Naval Institute.

Among the ships affected are two replenishment ships, one fleet oiler, a dozen Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports, and two forward-deployed Navy expeditionary sea bases, namely the USS Lewis Puller, based in Bahrain, and the USS Herschel "Woody" Williams, based in Souda Bay, Greece. This plan, known as the "great reset," is awaiting approval from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and will result in a reduction of Navy demands for officers by 700 mariners.

Challenges in Recruitment and Retention

The U.S. military's recruitment challenges in recent years have been particularly pronounced in the Army, which had to reduce its force by 24,000 – roughly 5% of jobs – in 2024 due to recruiting shortfalls. It is important to note that the Army is not seeking to retrench current soldiers but rather aims to address empty posts. Montgomery underscored that this issue primarily impacts Merchant Marines.

The role of merchant mariners is vital for the logistics backbone of the Navy, as they man oilers, ammo ships, and transport vessels that move the Army and Marine Corps across the water. With 90% of trade conducted via ships, the significant reliance on maritime logistics for military operations is unquestionable.

The Navy has faced challenges in deploying its fleet due to insufficient numbers of personnel. Montgomery recounted an instance where the Navy attempted to deploy 60 ships but could only manage to get 25 to sea. Furthermore, the aging fleet presents operational concerns, with the average age of ships in the reserve force being approximately 45 years. Out of these, 17 ships are over 50 years old, raising concerns about their modernization and operational readiness.

Shipbuilding Plans and Fleet Modernization

To address these challenges, the Navy has a 30-year shipbuilding plan that includes the decommissioning of 48 ships over a four-year period commencing in 2022. This plan is reported by Seapower magazine and reflects the Navy's efforts to modernize its fleet. In the first year of this plan, the Navy retired 10 ships, followed by 11 more ships in 2023, including missile cruisers, dock landing ships, and ocean tugs.