DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 1534.1E
N42
1 Dec 2017
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 1534.lE
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: STRATEGIC SEALIFT OFFICER PROGRAM
Ref: (a) 46 U.S.C §51101, §51301, §51501, §51701
(b) NSTC M-1533.2B
(c) BUPERSINST 1001.39F
Encl: (1) Strategic Sealift Officer Program Participation
1. Purpose
a. To issue policy and assign responsibilities for the organization, administration, and
training of commissioned officers in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program (SSOP).
b. This revision removes the Maritime Administration (MARAD) from the responsibilities
paragraph and updates the SSOP requirements as an enclosure. This instruction is a complete
revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 1534.lD.
3. Scope and Applicability. This instruction applies to all strategic sealift officers (SSO).
4. Background. The U.S. Merchant Marine is an essential component of national defense and
provides the primary sealift capability necessary to meet national defense requirements.
Experience gained during previous conflicts has emphasized the importance of Navy
coordination with all segments of the maritime industry. In order to facilitate these integrated
operations, the Department of the Navy established, in support of reference (a), the Merchant
Marine Reserve U.S. Naval Reserve Program. This program is now called the SSOP. The SSOP
supports national defense sealift requirements and capabilities. The SSOP provides the
opportunity for Navy officers to obtain a valid U.S. merchant mariner’s license and subject
matter expertise in sealift, maritime operations, and logistics necessary to fulfill many of the
Navy’s combat support missions. Enclosure (1) provides policy on eligibility, participation,
designation, and warfare qualification.
