Damage Control Assistant Leader

This is a shipboard position with the Military Sealift Command, a U.S. Navy command. Ships operate worldwide, so the work is at sea and the San Diego location is a reference point only; assignments are made by MSC. Applications are submitted through MSC's own application portal (apply.sealiftcommand.com) - contacting your Veteran Staffing Consultant does not submit one.

MSC's average annual earnings for this role: $158,574 plus a recruitment bonus of up to $12,428. That is total take-home including overtime and penalty pay, not the base pay in the job announcement.

Announcement opens continuously from 10/01/2026, with periodic cut-offs.

A recruitment incentive is authorized for eligible selectees and requires a service agreement. Incentive is paid as a lump sum at the beginning of employment with the Command. Mixed Work Schedule, VEOA candidates and Annuitants selected for employment are not eligible for recruitment incentives.

The Damage Control Assistant Leader is a Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) employed by the Navy to serve the Military Sealift Command (MSC) onboard naval auxiliaries and hybrid-maned warships worldwide, in peace and war. MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations. MSC provides on time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, in contested or uncontested environments.

Damage Control Assistant Leaders (DCALs) assist the Damage Control Leader (DCL) in supervising the DCOs, ADCOs, DCMs, ATT office, and shipboard operations. Assists in conducting training based upon MSC and USCG training requirements, ship drills, ship inspections and casualty investigations for the MSC civil service marine workforce. DCALs may be assigned to a MSC training center, field site, or on an Afloat Training Team. Duties include, but are not limited to developing/revising training instructions, guides, etc.; participating/conducting training courses; participating in or assisting afloat training teams; acting as safety supervisor during field exercises, conducting inspections and drills aboard ships; writing instructional, investigation and/or inspection reports with recommendations; providing technical advice on damage control issues; and/or maintaining and repairing school facilities and equipment as necessary. DCALs also represent MSC interests at conferences germane to MSC training and readiness. DCALs report to DCLs and Afloat Training Team Directors. Candidates selected required to sail 30-45 days on annual basis during high relief request seasons and mission contingencies. When assigned to a ship, DCAL comes under the administrative supervision of the ship’s Master. Everything in this Position Description is considered to be an essential function of this position. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Must be a United States citizen of at least 18 years of age and possess and maintain:
• U.S. Regular Passport (also referred to as a tourist or blue passport) with minimum of ten (10) months of expiration date.
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration.
• United States Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner's Credential (MMC), with a minimum of ten months remaining of expiration date.
• Position Specific Requirements: • Applicants must possess credentials that will allow them to serve in seagoing positions, up to either as either Chief Mate or First Assistant Engineer aboard MSC CIVMAR manned vessels
• Therefore, each must have Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as:
• • Master or Chief Mate (Any Gross Tons Upon Oceans)
• or Chief Engineer or First Assistant Engineer (Steam, Motor or Gas Turbine vessels of Any Horse Power)
• • Applicants must also possess the respective STCW Certification that accompanies the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC)
• • Any Unlicensed Rating in the Deck Department,
• • Able Seafarer - Deck, or Any Unlicensed Rating in the Engine Department, or Able Seafarer - Engine
• • Applicants with an Engineer's license must also possess Universal EPA Ozone Depleting Substances certificate
• Applicants with a Deck license must also possess a current Radar Observer endorsement
• Although not required for consideration, candidates that hold Tankerman PIC (person in charge)/DL (dangerous liquids), or the appropriate Towing credentials as specified in 46 CFR 15.805(a)(5), Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR), possess credentials or certificates demonstrating proficiency with unusual and technical shipboard operations systems and programs such as Dynamic Positioning (DP) Systems, salvage operations, cable operations, command ship operations, or foreign naval auxiliary operations shall provide that information on the Application form

Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for Military Sealift Command is Chuck Callahan.