One Cushy Ride

[livvy]

One Cushy Ride

Individual staterooms, no uniforms, overtime pay — all in a day’s work aboard an MSC ship


By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 8, 2009 8:51:34 EST

ABOARD THE USNS ROBERT E. PEARY — Life is very different on this side of the unrep.

The crew members are mostly civilians, with an average age of 48. They get overtime pay — when necessary — and are guaranteed a minimum of two hours’ worth any time they’re called back. And when the workday is done, everyone goes home. Sort of.

“Home,” aboard a 41,000-ton Military Sealift Command fleet support ship, is a stateroom for every crew member. That includes even the greenest newcomer.

The features are beyond cushy for sailors used to the USS life: MSC mariners have reclining easy chairs, carpets, their own plasma TVs, and Xbox 360s rigged up on their ship’s intranet for after-hours “Halo.”

“People really move into them,” said Susan Melow, a former MSC purser who is now a spokeswoman for Military Sealift Fleet Support Command.

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http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/02/navy_civmars_020809w/%2e