Carrier Deployment Smashes 50-Year Record, Sailors Suffer
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has officially broken the U.S. record for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, spending nearly 10 months at sea. This extended mission included participation in significant military actions, such as the raid in Venezuela and operations related to the Iran war, before a fire necessitated repairs. This record-breaking deployment has raised concerns regarding the impact of prolonged absences on service members’ well-being and the strain on the ship’s operational capacity.
John Q. Hosedrinker