An examination of the Outporting Ship Program implemented in response to the increased program size of the Ready Reserve Force

Abstract

This thesis is a discussion of the actions the Government has taken in response to the decline of the civilian merchant marine fleet. Early sealift capability, a vital component of the U.S. defense strategy has deteriorated. Progressively more expansive measures have been adapted in governmental efforts to build up a strong arsenal of assets capable of responding rapidly in the event of a contingency. This thesis looks at the components of the strategic sealift program, the National Defense Reserve Fleet, the Ready Reserve Force and, the newest measure, the ship Outporting Program. This program was implemented to alleviate congestion at the fleet anchorages, thereby reducing the ship activation and loadout times, ensuring rapid delivery of U.S. fighting force equipment overseas. This study culminates with the presentation of data that may be used to develop a model that will appraise the effectiveness of outporting a Ready Reserve Force ship.