Military Sealift Command Central (MSCCENT)
Sealift Logitics Command Central (SEALOGCENT)

The mission of Military Sealift Command Central (MSCCENT) is to provide at-sea logistics and strategic sealift services to US warfighters operating throughout the US Central Command Theater. MSCCENT is a key player in the global war on terrorism, delivering critical combat cargo, food, fuel, ammunition and supplies to sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines on the front lines of the fight.

Previously, the mission of Commander, MSCCENT had been to conduct Military Sealift Command operations in support of Commander, US Central Command, its' components, and when directed, DOD, DOS and other activities.

As of 2011, MSCCENT served the US Central Command area of operations, which extended from East Africa to the west coast of Pakistan and from the south eastern Mediterranean Sea through the Persian Gulf. This area encompassed 27 countries and 7.5 million square miles including the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

In 1991, the Military Sealift Command Office Southwest Asia was established in Bahrain. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Military Sealift Command distinguished itself as the largest defense transportation provider of any nation involved. At the height of the war, the command directed more than 230 government-owned and chartered ships that delivered more than 12 million tons of helicopters, tanks, trucks, ammunition, fuel and other supplies to U.S. combatant forces at sea and on the ground in the Middle East.

Military Sealift Command established its first permanent office in the region in 1992. For the next 7 years, Military Sealift Command Office Southwest Asia coordinated Military Sealift Command operations in the Persian Gulf.

In January 1999, Vice Admiral James Perkins, US Navy, then commander of Military Sealift Command, announced the interim establishment of Military Sealift Command Central in support of Fifth Fleet. In September 1999, Rear Admiral Gordon Holder, US Navy, then commander of Military Sealift Command, in coordination with Fifth Fleet, agreed to the permanent establishment of MSCCENT. MSCCENT was established and stood up as the fifth Military Sealift Command area command. MSCO Bahrain was disestablished, and those functions were integrated into MSCCENT. The MSCO commander billet became the MSCCENT chief staff officer. An office in Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait was also opened, called MSCO Kuwait.

MSCCENT (and it predecessor organization) participated in numerous major exercises within the US Central Command area of responsibility during the 1990s. Native Fury combined naval training exercise with emphasis on coastal patrol, liaison and command relationships. Unified Charger, a Commander Sealift Command Europe and Southwest Asia reserve activation training exercise, involved Military Sealift Command reserve units standing up MSC Offices. Bright Star was a CENTCOM biennial joint task force exercise with emphasis on testing sealift capability. Crescent Dagger was a Southwest Asia reserve activation exercise similar to Unified Charger. The exercise was under development for FY00. Natural Fire was a joint training between CENTCOM and local African forces. This exercise was also to demonstrate humanitarian assistance / peacekeeping capabilities of US forces. MSC reservists were to assist I Marine Expeditionary Force in discharging Military Prepositioned Stock equipment. Native Atlas was Joint Logistics Over The Shore operation off Kuwait, involving CENTCOM forces.

In 2006, as part of MSC's global transformation efforts, the command was renamed Sealift Logistics Command Central (SEALOGCENT). In 2011, as part of another transformation effort, the command was renamed back to Military Sealift Command Central (MSCCENT).