US Navy to sideline 17 vessels due to manpower shortage

The U.S. Navy plans to sideline 17 vessels due to a manpower shortage affecting ship operations. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery stated that the lack of Merchant Marines to support logistics is a "clear danger to national security."

The Military Sealift Command is proposing to place these ships in "extended maintenance," redistributing crews to meet operational needs.

This effort, called the "great reset," aims to reduce demands for officers by 700 personnel. The average age of reserve ships is about 45 years, raising concerns over modernization and serviceability. The Navy's shipbuilding plan includes retiring 48 ships over four years, with 21 already decommissioned.