Merchant Marine Reserve Program becomes Strategic Sealift Officer Program
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.
Navy Reserve Launches Next Phase of Forcewide Communication
Communicating with more than 100,000 Navy reservists and other key constituents worldwide has been a daunting task over the years. However, the commander of Navy Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC), launched 21st century technology June 25 to solve an age-old challenge. Reservists and others interested in the Navy Reserve Force can sign up for CNRFC’s list server for reserve-related information via e-mail. The list server, a computer server designed to automatically manage mailing lists with thousands of subscribers, will replace the current force e-mail distribution list (FEDL), which currently uses large distribution lists in the Microsoft Outlook program to send information to 8,000 recipients. People can subscribe for up to 13 e-mail groups at https://listserv.navyreserve.navy.mil.
