In Plain Sight

Given ample time, games of hiding assume the best locations are least expected. Plain sight often satisfies when daunting enough for any number of excellent reasons.

As scheduled, submarine tender USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) is now one of 30 Military Sealift Command ships in the Special Mission Ships Program.

Curiously, however, this Military Sealift Command ship is still commanded by a Navy Captain.

Federal government employees who work and sail on government-owned Military Sealift Command ships known as civil service mariners or CIVMARs are responsible for navigation, deck, engineering, galley and steward services and communications and supply functions.

Capt. Jeffrey M. Hughes assumed command of USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) during a change of command ceremony in 2006. As of October 2007, the AS-39 had a crew of about 97 officers and 1,266 enlisted. Final numbers shown in the prior link for FY2010, are only 160 CIVMARs and 292 uniformed Navy personnel -- a move that appears to eliminate 911 (70%) of the Navy sailors while availing CIVMAR efficiencies.

Here the Navy explains what its two, commissioned sub tenders did in 2007. The other tender is the USS Frank Cable (AS-40) in Apra Harbor. Sub tenders rarely log long voyages. I bet those deck, galley, steward, and supply civilians get some awesome background clearances. Why?

This YouTube will help you recall a certain cook, for example:



Igor Loginov, the Cook from The Hunt for Red October...

Where have you heard of Lt. Emory Land before? His 1913 words were quoted recently.