In April 2013, it was announced that the Military Sealift Command will take Rainier and her sister USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10) out of service in 2014 as a cost-saving measure.

The pellets are charged with twelve battle stars earned for World War II service in Korea and Vietnam.

The crossed palm fronds represent the ship's extensive service in the South Pacific and portray strength, support, honor, and achievement.

NASSCO built Rainier utilizing an efficient modular construction technique - separate sections of the ship were built with piping sections, ventilation ducting and shipboard hardware, as well as major machinery items such as main propulsion equipment, generators and electrical panels installed.

During the month of May, 1996, Rainier conducted several ammunition onloads, fueling at sea (FAS) and CONSOL's before arriving in the Hawaiian Operating Area.

Throughout June 1996, Rainier participated in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC-96) exercise where numerous FAS, Vertical Replenishments (VERTREP) and CONSOL's were conducted with US, Australian, Canadian and Japanese ships.

Rainier's maiden deployment began when she departed Indian Island, Washington on October 11, 1996, en route to Hong Kong via the SOCAL OPAREA.

For the month of November, Rainier anchored in Hong Kong, providing hotel services to USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) and participated in a relief project: "Helping Hands Home for the Elderly."

The month of December found Rainier transit ing the Strait of Hormuz; anchoring at Bahrain; conducting FAS and CONSOL's; loading fuel at Jebel Ali, UAE; transiting the Strait of Hormuz; conducting FAS's; and on Christmas, loading fuel in Fujairah; re-transiting the Strait of Hormuz to conduct FAS's; and, anchoring on New Year's Eve with the SAG.

During the month of January 1996, Rainier fell into a routine of loading fuel in Jebel Ali, conducting numerous FAS, Replenishment at Sea (RAS), VERTREP, and CONSOL's.

During this period, Rainier anchored in Bahrain, was inport Jebel Ali and retransited the Strait of Hormuz for the last time during this deployment.

A majority of Rainier's operational time was conducting FAS, RAS, VERTREP and CONSOL's while in the Persian Gulf.

After departing the Persian Gulf, Rainier made port calls to Phuket, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Rainier returned from back to Bremerton, WA on September 10, 2001, the day before the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Rainier's fourth and final deployment as a USS ship began in early November 2002, making only one extended port call in Hong Kong prior to entering the Persian Gulf.

[4] Like other fast combat support ships, she was part of MSC's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force.