Merchant Seamen in the Gulf WarKeyser, Mackoy, Fuss, MatthewsThe military sea transport command fleet was an instrument of great importance when it aims to meet the needs of the Navy. In terms of seniority, the Merchant Navy program has been active longer than that of the Navy and Army. Throughout U.S. history, they have helped ensure safe passages for international waterways and refuel ships in sunny breezes and stormy winds. In terms of military support, it is the largest implementation that has taken the world by storm and changed people's outlook on how a nation can wage war or defend itself against a foreign power. Before the "First Gulf War", the United States had begun to significantly reduce its military size, leaving a huge gap in supplies between the world's hot spots and vehicles and munitions ready to be transported efficiently and as quickly as possible. Transporting vehicles and supplies from one place to another became even more difficult when the Korean and Vietnam Wars escalated into near-world wars. The lack of readily accessible supplies to forces on the ground is causing heavy losses and a solution must be found. The answer came in the 1980s, when the Military Sealift Command began a program to distribute large quantities of supplies around the world to key areas, being able to reach conflict zones in a matter of hours instead of a few. weeks. The first ships to be implemented in the program were the Corporal Louis J. Hauge, Jr. and Sergeant Matej Kocak classes (Source 1.). Both of these ships were chartered from private companies and then modernized to be more accommodating. The ability to load hundreds of tons of stores onto the ship and deliver them middle of paper...... F. Addams and John J. Nelson. “Seatransport as part of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.” Naval Analysis Center, May 1991. Web. 3 Nov 13. "Military Sealift Command in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1990-1991." History.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command, August 2004. Web. November 3, 2013. Cruikshank, Jeffrey L. and Chloe G. Kline. In Peace and War: A History of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Print. “Gulf War 1990-91”. Gulf War 1990-91. Np, and Web. November 21, 2013. Rodriguize, Loudris. “Salt shortage for skilled sailors during Gulf War prompts call-up of some old men from the sea.” Sentinel of the Sun. Sun Sentinel, February 6, 1991. Web. November 21. 2013.