The United States Merchant Marine is a component of civilian cargo operations which can be called upon for assisting military and government branches by use of the fleet. When a vessel is part of a fleet, it is under the direction of the government. They bear the responsibility of protecting cargo at all costs during peace and wartime. The history of the Merchant Marine goes back to 1775 for the colonies needing supplies and goods to combat British rule. Since then role the of the Merchant Marine has become deemed as crucial for elements of transportation. Even though Merchant Marines train and are put through drills, they maintain peacetime operations constantly around the world. The fleets bear a large responsibility in pulling in much-needed equipment to various spots around the world for purposes of operations and interest of the government. In the Merchant Marines, there are various functions in which Mariners are required to specialize in to ensure successful operation on board.
There are responsibilities such as the engineer and deck. The engineer finds themselves maintaining and operating various mechanical functions of a ship such as sewage, electrical and pump systems. They often find themselves supervising Oilers that are responsible to keep engine parts lubricated at all times. Engineers also have a crucial part in overseeing the engine room operations. Deck jobs are more oriented towards the actual cargo operations. Various audits are performed to ensure that all cargo stored safely, and working conditions are safe as well. Brandon Derek Greaux had the great responsibility of an engineer in the USMM.