Rainier has the speed to keep up with the carrier strike groups. She rapidly replenishes Navy task forces. She receives petroleum products, ammunition and stores from shuttle ships and redistributes these items simultaneously to carrier strike group ships. This reduces the vulnerability of serviced ships by reducing alongside time. In April 2013, it was announced that the Military Sealift Command will take Rainier and her sister USNS Bridge out of service in 2014 as a cost-saving measure.