Military Sealift Command (MSC) is the Department of Defense’s maritime transportation
organization, providing logistics and service support to the DoD across the full spectrum of
military operations. MSC has approximately 125 ships at sea or ready for tasking. The USNS
LEROY GRUMMAN is a strategic asset as a fleet oiler and part of MSC’s combat logistics
force. USNS LEROY GRUMMAN arrived at Boston Ship Repair on Feb. 24, 2020, to begin an
in-depth maintenance period to make the ship ready to return back on deployment. At that point
in time, there were no local transmissions or deaths from COVID-19. Over the course of the
month of March, the threat posed by the virus increased. On March 13, 2020, the President
declared a national emergency. On March 21, 2020, Commander, Military Sealift Command
(COMSC) issued a “Gangways Up” order, out of necessity and as a direct response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Focused on health and safety of the force and mission assurance, this was
an MSC Fleet-wide suspension of all liberty and leave for civilian Mariners assigned to MSC
ships worldwide, to include the USNS LEROY GRUMMAN. As our understanding of COVID19 increased, so too did our protective posture and counter-COVID tactics. The risk of
introduction of disease to our ships by non-crew personnel was reduced through screening prior
to boarding, physical distancing, wearing of masks and other protective equipment, established
access routes aboard ship, and sanitization in work and access areas following any evolution
involving off-ship personnel. While MSC executed its responsibility to protect the health of the
MSC crews, there remained a continuing responsibility to maintain MSC ships to perform their
national security missions. Therefore, the USNS LEROY GRUMMAN continued to undergo
necessary repairs in Boston.
Throughout April 2020, Boston saw a steady increase in COVID-19 cases. On April 24, 2020,
MSC learned of shipyard personnel who had tested positive for COVID-19, additionally one
Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) on board USNS LEROY GRUMMAN went to a local
Veterans Affairs Hospital and tested positive for COVID-19. MSC immediately launched a full
evaluation along with contact tracing to determine the number of additional people having close
contact with any individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. All CIVMARs who exhibited
influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms were immediately tested for COVID-19. Those identified
as having close contact were quarantined in Restriction of Movement (ROM) status for a period
of at least 14 days in accordance to Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Ultimately, 24 of 47
crew tested positive for the virus. 23 recovered but one, Joseph Bondoc, unfortunately passed
away due to complications from COVID-19. Mr. Bondoc was a long-time friend and co-worker
to many at MSC and our heartfelt condolences are with his shipmates, family and friends.
COVID-19 remains a serious public health threat, and MSC’s priorities are to preserve the health
and safety of our workforce while maintaining warfighting readiness. This is not business as
usual for MSC, or any part of the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense. We are constantly
learning, sharing and applying lessons learned to adapt and improve our COVID-19 prevention
and mitigations strategies, protocols, tactics and procedures. Incredible effort and ingenuity
exhibited throughout our force have allowed MSC to adjust global operations to keep the fleet
healthy and safe, and to make ships ready to go to sea as we execute our mission for the Nation.