How does the Military Sealift Command support U.S. armed forces?

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The Military Sealift Command (MSC) serves as a vital logistics arm of the U.S. Navy, responsible for delivering supplies and providing essential services to military forces worldwide through five primary mission areas:1

Combat Logistics Force: Directly supports the navy by resupplying ships while they are at sea.1
Sealift Program: Utilizes commercial, U.S.-flagged vessels to transport bulk supplies to necessary locations.1
Prepositioning Program: Strategically positions military equipment at sea or other sites to ensure rapid retrieval during operations.1
Service Support: Provides critical naval assistance, including towing, salvage, rescue, repair, and cable-laying services.1
Special Mission Program: Conducts scientific data collection, ocean surveillance, missile monitoring, and ballistic missile defense support via radar platforms, while also managing global tugboat services.1

Operated by civilian mariners (CIVMARs), the MSC manages a fleet of government-owned ships—designated as United States Naval Ships (USNS)—and chartered commercial vessels to maintain the operational readiness of the armed forces.1