Medical Services Officer

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: $165,334 plus a recruitment bonus of up to $70,497. 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 Medical Services Officer is a Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) employed by the Navy to serve the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on board naval auxiliaries and hybrid-manned 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.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Medical Services Officer (MSO) performs a variety of administrative, patient care, and department head duties and functions pertaining to the complete operation of a shipboard Medical Department. Duties include general and medical administration, direct patient care, supply management, occupational health and preventive medicine surveillance, medical training, sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR), and support of shipboard operations as assigned. The MSO independently manages the Medical Department and is directly responsible to the Master while assigned onboard MSC ships. The MSO is competency aligned to the MSC Force Surgeon for medical credentialing, professional oversight, and continuing education, including sustainment training and expected to deliver medical service at a level that meets or exceeds the standard defined by the MSC Force Surgeon. The incumbent ensures continuing application of and compliance with EEO laws, regulations and policies.

1. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND FUNCTIONS

On a daily basis the MSO is required to maintain all Medical Department records, including medical ledgers, logs, inventories, individual health records and Department of Labor forms such as Federal Workers Compensation Forms, etc. in conformance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Theater Medical Information Program (TMIP) and Ship Configuration Logistics Information Program (ShipCLIP) are the electronic systems to manage the various medical programs. The MSO also has department head duties that require the incumbent be available to the ship's Master for a variety of health administration, oversight and advisory functions and to perform other duties as assigned.

2. HEALTH CARE

The MSO shall deliver a standard of care that is prescribed by the MSC Force Surgeon. The MSO’s scope of care is closely aligned with that of a Navy Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman. The MSO will document all care completely and accurately in the electronic medical record, conforming to standards established by the Force Surgeon. The incumbent will actively support required medical quality assurance and quality improvement programs.

3. FISCAL AND SUPPLY

The MSO is responsible for all of the supply functions unique to the Medical Department. The incumbent carries out all policies and procedures concerning afloat medical equipment and supplies, including medical consumables and maintains inventory at prescribed levels. The ShipCLIP program is the electronic system to manage this function.

4. TRAINING

The MSO provides medical training for the crew as directed by the MSC Force Surgeon and the MSC Director of Afloat training. The MSO shall conduct on a routine basis a schedule of medical training lectures for all embarked personnel or subsets of the crew as appropriate for the topics to include Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) and preventive health education. Additionally, for newly reporting personnel, the MSO shall review medical history and current medications the individual may be taking and provide general orientation to the medical services available, personal hygiene and location and use of emergency medical equipment.

5. PEST CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The MSO shall maintain a healthy working environment on the ship by: (a) ensuring currency of his/her pest control manager certificate, (b) conducting, on at least a monthly basis, inspections of all food services spaces, storerooms, ship stores, and any other spaces that may be of concern to discover and remediate infestations of stored products by roaches, rodents, or other pests in accordance with the guidance provided by area preventive medicine units, (c) monitoring pest control spraying, trapping, and baiting by Navy approved pest control personnel and log results of surveys, (d) maintaining an electronic Pest Control Log and ensuring that surveys, spraying, and pest control supplies are conducted by Navy approved pest control personnel and are entered in the appropriate logs, (e) ensuring that adequate supplies are maintained onboard and that they are stored in accordance with existing instructions, (f) providing for the establishment of a pest control spill kit and maintain accordingly, and (g) inspecting all fresh produce and refrigerated items coming aboard to ensure quality and that it is pest free.

The MSO is responsible to the Master for inspecting and reporting on the sanitation of the ship. The incumbent will conduct at least monthly sanitation inspections of all food service spaces including, but not limited to, reefer decks and storerooms, and report in writing to the ships Master the results of all inspections using reporting procedures as outlined in the P-5010, Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine, and Tri-Service Food Code. The incumbent will provide the Master, Supply Officer and Chief Steward with guidance on corrective actions and provide the Chief Steward with training for his/her department in all aspects of food service sanitation and preparation. At the discretion of the Master, the incumbent will conduct sanitation/ habitability inspections of any designated space/stateroom and report his/her findings/recommendations in writing to the Master.

6. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

The MSO manages, administers, and provides training for the ship’s occupational health and preventive medicine programs. The MSO ensures that medical surveillance physicals (MSP) and immunizations for all crew remain current and reported to Force Medical as required. In addition the incumbent tracks hearing conservation, heat stress and potable water programs. The MSO reports all findings directly to the Master in accordance with current MSC directives and SMS Guides.

7. DRUG FREE WORKPLACE DUTIES

Serve as primary Collection Site Coordinator (CSC) for the Drug Free Workplace Program (DFWP) and as alternate Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) onboard MSC Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) manned Ships.

8. SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE - VICTIM ADVOCATE (SAPR-VA) DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH OPNAVINST 1752.1C and DoDI 6495.02

The MSO serves as a shipboard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response-Victim Advocate (SAPR-VA) onboard MSC vessels.

All MSOs comply with all Defense Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Credentialing Program (D-SAACO) requirements as a condition of employment.

Shipboard SAPR-VAs’ are the first responder for all sexual assault incidents involving adults.

MSO SAPR-VAs’ must:

a. Be available and immediately respond upon receipt of a report of sexual assault.

b. Determine immediate needs of victim; inform the victim of reporting options and services available outlined on the DD Form 2910 (military victims only) to include availability of a victims’ legal counsel; encourage victim to seek medical attention and/or forensic exam - accompany the victim as appropriate.

c. Understand and explain available reporting options and resources for civilians.

d. Provide non-clinical crisis intervention and ongoing support, in addition to referrals for adult sexual assault victims regardless of service affiliation.

e. Assist the victim in navigating processes required to obtain care and services needed. SAPR-VAs’ and unit SAPR-VAs’ will not serve as the victim’s mental health provider or act as an investigator.

f. Notify the MSC SAPR Program Manager or the nearest installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) of the incident.

Everything in this Position Description is considered to be an essential function of this position. Performs 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.
• United States Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Certificate without any Limitations/Restrictions, with a minimum of ten (10) months remaining of expiration date.

Position Specific Requirements: • MMC endorsed as: Ordinary Seaman, Wiper, Steward Department (FH) AND:

Certificate of Registry (COR) as one of the following:

• And a
• Medical Doctor - Valid license as physician or surgeon under the authority of a state or territory of the US, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia
• b
• Marine Physician Assistant - Successful completion of instruction for a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner program
• c
• Medical Technician - Must have previous military medical experience and documentation via a DD-214 equivalent to an Independent Duty Corpsman (E-6 or above) and possess a Navy NEC 8425/8402/8403/8494 (L01A, L02A, L10A, L28A), US Coast Guard ((USCG) Independent Duty Health Services Technician, Army MOS 18D, USAF MOS 4NOX1
• USCG Medical Certificate

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.