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News & Current Events Apr 16, 2026 at 6:21 PM

US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War

Posted by CraftyFoxeYT

US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War
AP News
US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has broken the U.S. record for the longest deployment since the Vietnam War.
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_the_genius Apr 16, 2026 +563
This is absolutely not a good thing at all. Even extending deployments from 6 to 9 months is a hardship. This breaks the morale of crew and is terrible on families.
563
sloowhand Apr 17, 2026 +46
I know quite a few people who were on that Lincoln deployment. The big difference is that it was involved in a conflict that the crew largely supported. But even then it was really really hard.
46
_the_genius Apr 17, 2026 +22
My dad was in over 20 years. Dealt with long deployments, some of them extended. It sucked being a young kid without your dad for months at a time. I feel for every sailor and family member impacted.
22
AdventurousLet548 Apr 17, 2026 +115
Morale is so low in the military that a lot of folks are leaving as soon as they can. It’s a shit hole without leadership.
115
mriguy Apr 16, 2026 +254
I’m not saying Trump is following Putin’s orders to wreck the American military. I’m just saying if he _were_, it would look exactly like what he’s doing.
254
overlordjunka Apr 17, 2026 +10
But that CO is gonna get another star
10
the_original_kermit Apr 18, 2026 +6
Legitimate question. How did this become the longest deployment? I get the war with Iran and all, but were they already on a longer than expected deployment already before that started?
6
_the_genius Apr 18, 2026 +10
They were deployed down to South America for the Venezuela action and never came back to Norfolk. They steamed across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean to sit and project power.
10
the_original_kermit Apr 18, 2026 +2
Thank you
2
KwisatzHaderach94 Apr 17, 2026 +8
trump is practically encouraging a mutiny. doesn't matter if he gave service members a raise.
8
Chrisbap Apr 18, 2026 +4
Just wait until he sends them directly from his Iran war to invading Cuba.
4
onceinawhile222 Apr 16, 2026 +813
What a way to ruin your military. Extend operations long past recommend maintenance parameters. Stress the crew with extended deployments so they don’t see their families. Hard to see what’s the purpose of this since it was all by choice of Trump.
813
captHij Apr 16, 2026 +268
All while making them sit on top of a couple nuclear reactors in a war zone while having to continually unclog the poorly designed toilets.
268
tepkel Apr 16, 2026 +119
>continually unclog the poorly designed toilets. They should go old-school and just tack some pieces of plywood with holes cut in them to the side of the ship. They could call it the poop deck.
119
cwx149 Apr 16, 2026 +39
Just cut holes in some of the wings of the planes and park them so the wing hangs off the side
39
WoodenInternet Apr 17, 2026 +11
use an F-35 for maximum toilet opulence
11
tepkel Apr 17, 2026 +8
Those fish will never see it coming.
8
Bagellord Apr 17, 2026 +9
No no no. Just have helos take off and they can lean out the sides. The wind from the rotor blade will waft the smell away, and if they go into a low hover the ocean spray will act as a bidet. I will not be taking any questions.
9
Xytak Apr 16, 2026 +12
As a safety officer, I see zero issues with this.
12
AcousticOnomatopoeia Apr 17, 2026 +1
With the poop rope? Trust me, we don't wanna go back the days of the poop deck poop rope.
1
laptopAccount2 Apr 18, 2026 +1
Poop deck is actually paupe deck, french for aft.
1
tepkel Apr 18, 2026 +5
Whereas the word "joke" comes from Latin *iocus*.
5
AntiseptikCN Apr 19, 2026 +1
LOL the number of people on that ship the brown trail would be visible from space!
1
ObjectiveDark40 Apr 16, 2026 +6
Each clog costs $400,000 to unclog
6
FreeUsePolyDaddy Apr 17, 2026 +10
$390,000 of that is the single-use toilet plunger specially designed for warfighters (TM pending). Removing the clog itself only costs $10,000.
10
ObjectiveDark40 Apr 17, 2026 +6
But for reals it's an expensive acid flush because a plunger won't get a t-shirt out of a vacuum toilet.  https://apnews.com/article/6df7cd0621a3bc06f4874ccaa02603a7 https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/nx-s1-5680167/major-plumbing-headache-haunts-13-billion-u-s-carrier-off-the-coast-of-venezuela
6
Queermagedd0n Apr 17, 2026 +4
And feeding them what looks like shoe leather, dog food, and a small handful of chopped carrots.
4
WCland Apr 17, 2026 +45
Hegseth is an idiot and fantasizes about tough soldiers and sailors that apparently never need to rest. If he actually knew anything about military matters, he’d know the most effective soldiers are well rested and have had rotations off the front lines.
45
Cookie_Eater108 Apr 17, 2026 +6
Wasn't that a known thing since Roman times?  Troops fight ineffectively when winded. Which is why formations were created that allowed for frontliners to rotate effectively midcombat with rear forces in a safe manner. You can only maintain a shieldwall for so long before your arm gets sore. 
6
Hongxiquan Apr 16, 2026 +47
If you look at it from a large scale view it looks like a pretty good way to ruin the American military by screwing with morale
47
mixmasterADD Apr 16, 2026 +58
They will still vote R
58
DTFlash Apr 16, 2026 +28
He thinks they're suckers and losers so why would he care?
28
f1del1us Apr 17, 2026 +5
I don’t think it was a choice more a lack of caring in any sense. I imagine he does not see it as people but just a thing to execute his desires, like a hammer so to speak.
5
ffrkAnonymous Apr 16, 2026 +15
Cruelty is the purpose. 
15
MrFishAndLoaves Apr 16, 2026 +6
You give them too much credit. I think they are just out to destroy America.
6
Teantis Apr 17, 2026 +5
Shit at this point I think ascribing them any motives or plans that have a time horizon longer than their immediate nasty urges of the moment might be giving them too much credit.
5
aradraugfea Apr 16, 2026 +9
I gotta wonder if Trump is trying to get Zero votes so he can claim it was rigged
9
Milli_Rabbit Apr 17, 2026 +14
Hes literally the definition of his generation. They're here to exploit us for every drop of blood and every dollar all the way to their dying breath.
14
NrvusRaccoon Apr 17, 2026 +7
Lots of military folk voted for Trump so they are getting what they want
7
merrysunshine2 Apr 17, 2026 +3
Wonder if those that did even comprehend that though. I can’t imagine what the FRG group postings look like.
3
Luniticus Apr 17, 2026 +1
If only we had 10 other aircraft carriers so we could rotate them through deployment and shore duty while still maintaining a presence in multiple theaters of operation with proper planning.
1
ericmm76 Apr 17, 2026 +1
And look at the meals.
1
nazerall Apr 16, 2026 +254
I know some guys in the Navy that are really f****** sick of our military leaders.
254
CantAffordzUsername Apr 17, 2026 +196
I had to look it up but a vast majority of our serving men and women voted for him both terms so….the ones you know are the minority Shocked how stupid the ones are who voted for him twice after all the shit he as said about them
196
cameron4200 Apr 17, 2026 +58
They hate immigrants and gay people more than they hate their jobs unfortunately
58
shwarma_heaven Apr 17, 2026 +12
That is basically what it comes down to... Economy? No more wars? Going to jail all pedophiles? Going to wear the debt? All just window dressing for the real reason they voted for him.
12
[deleted] Apr 17, 2026 +31
[deleted]
31
premature_eulogy Apr 17, 2026 +49
...but that *is* identity politics.
49
RVAforthewin Apr 17, 2026 +2
Veteran here. We received pay raises annually, regardless of who was in office. I served under Dems and Republicans.
2
Kabby360 Apr 17, 2026 +8
It depends on the specific job fields. Most of the folks joining the military have prior service family members so they follow in their footsteps, which tends to be conservative areas and my grandad and dad voted republican, I might as well too. Tends to be a lot of ammo, maintenance, grunt folks.
8
atooraya Apr 16, 2026 +163
It’s okay. They’ll vote republican again in 2028.
163
missed_sla Apr 17, 2026 +42
61% of them voted for Trump so I don't know what to tell them
42
BigJellyfish1906 Apr 16, 2026 +9
Why self sensor?
9
nazerall Apr 16, 2026 +19
Voice to text
19
hoverbeaver Apr 16, 2026 +7
My phone actually puts in the swears. Or did you say eff asterisk asterisk asterisk asterisk asterisk asterisk?
7
turikk Apr 16, 2026 +2
Google keyboard does not
2
hoverbeaver Apr 17, 2026 +7
Aw, dang, that’s f******* unfortunate
7
Bob_Chris Apr 17, 2026 +2
Oh it definitely can.
2
Kewkky Apr 16, 2026 +340
I was in the Navy. I'd be SO f****** pissed at Trump if my 6-month deployment was extended to a year or more (in this case, 10 months so far) and I got no f****** liberty ports in the meantime. I'm pissed just reading this article's title.
340
ParabolicHyperbole Apr 16, 2026 +80
Same. Did 18 years, most of them on the carrier. I wonder how many chemlights / float coats have gone over the side thus far. I can’t imagine the mental toll this is taking on the crew + air wing.
80
lolofaf Apr 17, 2026 +28
As someone who doesnt know, what are chemlights and float coats, and why are they important for the mental wellbeing of the crew?
28
ParabolicHyperbole Apr 17, 2026 +128
“Float coats” are just a different term for life preserver. They’re required for anyone who’s on the flight deck. They also have a little beacon in them that is saltwater activated, so if you fall overboard it turns on a strobe light and sends out a radio signal that’s received onboard the ship. Aviation rescue swimmers also use chemlights (glow sticks) to mark them when they’re in the water at night. Whenever one of these float coat beacons goes off, or if someone spots a chem light in the water, a “man overboard” is called, and Every. Single. Person. onboard the carrier has to muster immediately. The rescue helicopter that’s on Alert status also launches immediately to search for/pick up the person in the water. It’s a real pain in the ass. When you’re on the later months of deployment, some people will throw a float coat/chemlight overboard because they’re pissed off at the world and want to make everyone miserable with them.
128
lolofaf Apr 17, 2026 +32
Thank you! The context is incredibly helpful
32
nowahhh Apr 17, 2026 +22
> some people will throw a float coat/chemlight overboard because they’re pissed off at the world and want to make everyone miserable with them. They're just like me fr
22
CatrionaShadowleaf Apr 17, 2026 +2
We spent an entire f****** week on one deployment getting a man overboard call every night. Day check was completely wiped out by day 4. I hope they found the a****** who was doing it. Either way it finally stopped after that week, but it was abject f****** misery.
2
Healthy-Stage-142 Apr 17, 2026 +12
Some members may not make it. I lost a buddy who ... Well yea.. after his deployment was extended.
12
Finn-reddit Apr 17, 2026 +9
I lost a cousin that way. F****** pointless.
9
tcmart14 Apr 17, 2026 +2
Y’all had that problem too on the carriers? I was on an LHD and it was usually bored Marines since for like 5 months out of a 7 month deployment the have nothing to do but watch anime and occasionally ship’s tax.
2
thewolf9 Apr 16, 2026 +142
Especially given that anywhere you stop you’re now hated by the locals
142
picaohm Apr 16, 2026 +20
Hey shipmate guess it's on the dinner menu tonight!?!
20
merrysunshine2 Apr 17, 2026 +7
Not much bc they’re running out of food
7
Stevil4583LBC Apr 16, 2026 +11
Coming home from desert storm, we got sent to Bangladesh to anchor in the bay for a month.
11
mschuster91 Apr 16, 2026 +7
>and I got no f****** liberty ports in the meantime IIRC they did get shore leave while the ship was in Split, Croatia for a week worth of repairs.
7
Missile_Lawnchair Apr 16, 2026 +16
These sailors are going to absolutely destroy the next port they have liberty at lol
16
FreeUsePolyDaddy Apr 17, 2026 +18
Which is something else that already doesn't help foreign opinions of the US, and hasn't for decades.
18
Moneyshot_ITF Apr 17, 2026 +1
Military men will still heavily vote Republican
1
PabloPicasshooole Apr 16, 2026 +124
I'm sure they'll be able to see their families again soon...as soon as they're done in Cuba.
124
fyrefox45 Apr 16, 2026 +29
The carrier for Cuba is called Florida lol
29
MooPig48 Apr 17, 2026 +1
No, then they’re going to Greenland You didn’t think he’d forgotten about Greenland, did you?
1
Ok-disaster2022 Apr 16, 2026 +27
Morale on board must be in the depths of the ocean. They can't even have a "beach day" to get some respite because they're in a war zone.  They need to be rotated out And given a break before they burn out completely. 
27
otterpusrexII Apr 17, 2026 +11
My friend is missing the birth of his first son due to the extension. They planned on him being back a month before. He’s not the only one. This is where morale is sinking.
11
Double_Resort_9223 Apr 16, 2026 +76
Are the sailors still taking shits over the side of the flight deck?
76
WearySail5039 Apr 16, 2026 +51
Oh definitely. That happens even when the toilets work haha
51
RadiantEnvironment90 Apr 16, 2026 +20
Wait is this real or a joke? Cuz it feels like it could go either way.
20
bigmac22077 Apr 16, 2026 +23
Never heard of the poop deck?
23
mavajo Apr 17, 2026 +1
Just for anyone that doesn’t know - this is a joke. That’s not why it’s called the poop deck. It’s based on the French word for “stern”, *la poupe*.
1
Stevil4583LBC Apr 16, 2026 +8
Pro tip: sit in a helo net and let er rip
8
LalaKroft Apr 16, 2026 +2
As long as there's no great white shart attacks, it's fine
2
man_eat_man Apr 16, 2026 +23
It was just 1 year ago when they spent billions to "eliminate" the Houthi's threat at Red sea.
23
yassssssirrr Apr 16, 2026 +18
I was in the Navy. This is a nightmare. When people say that Hegseth spent all that money on steak and lobster, I knew what was up. F*** this administration.
18
BigJellyfish1906 Apr 16, 2026 +17
This is going to crater retention… and recruitment for that matter. And they deserve it. 
17
spec-tickles Apr 18, 2026 +1
Ah don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll just kick the draft back on. Can’t resign if we’re all screwed.
1
Wayelder Apr 16, 2026 +8
Not easy to keep the rich pedophiles out of prison is it?
8
ckglle3lle Apr 17, 2026 +9
Hegseth and Trump despise armed service. They view them as servants to be exploited and berated. Trump views it as a low status job for losers who don't have connections. Hegseth thinks only in terms of movie tropes and memes. The only amount of shit either is able to summon for any serviceman is PR stunts and managing a media cycle.
9
MyPants Apr 16, 2026 +89
Can't wait to see the movie in ten years about how sad the sailors were to be bombing school girls.
89
Time_News_8452 Apr 16, 2026 +27
Epic Furious Starring an AI copy of Chuck Norris as a pilot shot down behind Iranian lines. Even on the ground he carries on his mission and infiltrates the Iranian secret storage of nuclear material and disables it before being rescued. Afterwards he proudly proclaims mission accomplished to president Trump, played by Dolph Lundgren with a digitally de-aged body.
27
moldivore Apr 16, 2026 +15
"Who you writing that letter to Johnny? Your girlfriend? Hahaah" "Yeah yeah, laugh it up Tim. I'm just writing a letter to our secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, to thank him for going to war for Jesus. Someone has to let him know we back him 100% He's just done so much for us and the American people."
15
FlirtyFluffyFox Apr 16, 2026 +8
I'm glad someone else though the hurt locker or whatever it was called was f****** creepy 
8
IvoShandor Apr 16, 2026 +16
Is this the carrier with the broken toilets and waste system? Sounds like a Carnival Cruise.
16
Time_News_8452 Apr 16, 2026 +6
A real shit show
6
KDR_11k Apr 17, 2026 +2
And burning laundry.
2
mt6606 Apr 17, 2026 +1
It's a POS. If hegseth wants to sacrifice something, the ford will be it.
1
markth_wi Apr 16, 2026 +7
Every single decision is harmful to the United States - and always has been.
7
WasteBinStuff Apr 16, 2026 +24
That's a f****** horrible record to have to break. A really "shitty" record to make them break, Petey. There's not a single sailor aboard that ship who is happy about that record. I'm sure that there are plenty of gung-ho boys and girls aboard who got to the point where they figured, "F*** it. We're close, might as well be proud to break it if we're close anyway." ....but not one of them is happy about it. And it sure doesn't help with retention and recruiting.
24
Ok-disaster2022 Apr 16, 2026 +12
It's amazing but I think the GOP found the worst SECDEF since McNamara. 
12
WasteBinStuff Apr 16, 2026 +12
Aah. McNamara was bad in his way, but he at least had nominal and relevant qualifications. Hegseth is unqualified, dangerously incompetent, and a juvenile prick on top of it. If Hegseth lasts anywhere near as long as McNamara ,God help us and our soldiers.
12
Goldenrule-er Apr 17, 2026 +1
You forgot that he's also a raging alcoholic, but I suppose that was included under "dangerously incompetent".
1
Dust601 Apr 16, 2026 +25
They’re at 295 days.  Longest ever was like 322 article says.  With no end to the war in Iran in sight they’re probably gonna break the all time record 
25
Leafy0 Apr 16, 2026 +17
I mean they’re probably over a 20 day sail away from a home port anyways unless they go to Hawaii , so they’re pretty much guaranteed to break the record at this point. Unless they legit try and sail home at top speed the whole way.
17
Wipperwill1 Apr 16, 2026 +13
I was in the middle of deployment in 2001, 9/11. We were gone for 214 days. Of those, 142 days without a port.
13
Dust601 Apr 17, 2026 +6
I really don’t know how ya’ll do it, and have so much respect for everyone who does.  142 days on a ship, that’s insane to me.  I know how massive some of the ships are, but I get uncomfortable just thinking about it. My brother was on a destroyer, but luckily was stationed in Japan so I don’t think he ever had to do any crazy long stretches.  
6
Wipperwill1 Apr 17, 2026 +4
Before that, the longest I'ld ever stayed underway was 24 days. 3 months was doing a circle in the Indian Ocean waiting for our marines to come back. They were, i'm told, refurnishing an old Pakistani airbase. When they finished the army and airforce flew in and took it over. Those guys looked rough after 90 days without running water.
4
laptopAccount2 Apr 18, 2026 +2
Pretty much no days off either and a strict sleep schedule.
2
Several-Squash9871 Apr 17, 2026 +3
At this point I don't see that not happening. They have been forgotten about in the abyss of ships and the this n that's going on. These guys and gals don't even register as a blip on the hire ups radar. They are just a pawn to push around on a table. There's no human element to it anymore. I couldn't imagine... if they can keep them out for the entirety of the war they absolutely will. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEM!
3
merrysunshine2 Apr 17, 2026 +3
I wonder how often they’ve gone River City too.
3
Several-Squash9871 Apr 17, 2026 +2
More than enough I'm sure...
2
captHij Apr 16, 2026 +6
It would be surprising if there were not more than a few ring-knockers who are ecstatic to be able to prop up their profile with this in their service record.
6
outerproduct Apr 16, 2026 +8
This kind of a record isn't a good thing, it's a stupid thing, a very stupid thing.
8
EffingNewDay Apr 16, 2026 +5
I wonder what the rates of NJP are onboard?
5
Fonalder Apr 16, 2026 +5
"Can't get into trouble if you are on the boat all day every day" - Navy Leadership
5
KDR_11k Apr 17, 2026 +4
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/16/iran-war-mail-packages-middle-east/89609308007/ They're running low on food, too. The Trump administration truly sucks at everything.
4
Keyann Apr 17, 2026 +1
Is that grey thing a tongue?
1
GeshtiannaSG Apr 17, 2026 +1
It’s that food Rey got at the start of The Force Awakens.
1
croolshooz Apr 16, 2026 +3
This is not a good record to break.
3
Suns_In_420 Apr 16, 2026 +3
Going to be a lot of people not re-upping when they get back to port.
3
msr42day Apr 16, 2026 +3
As previously stated, SOS- save our sailors. Pres47/admin47 have no reference point for what these extra-long deployments do to the sailors, their families, and the ships and aircraft. Serving in extra hot climates also does nothing for morale, except wear it thin.. Add to that the knowledge that the Iranians have the right weapons to destroy these top of the line ships. Astonishingly wrong, pres47/admin47/joint chiefs of staff. But, the sailors are only fodder to these " mission without a cause" planners.
3
obbie29 Apr 17, 2026 +3
The US is like a toddler with no supervision
3
spribyl Apr 16, 2026 +2
There are no winners here
2
mriguy Apr 16, 2026 +8
Sure there are - the Russians in the near term, and the Chinese in the longer term. It will be a lot easier to take Taiwan when the US can no longer fully crew their carriers.
8
mschuster91 Apr 16, 2026 +1
Russia is headed for the shitters either way, demographically, economically and politically. Everyone noticed that Russia didn't come to Iran's aid and, more importantly because they actually had a security pact, Armenia's aid when Azerbaijan went on a genocide. Agreed when it comes to China though. Mid term, it won't help them much outside of Taiwan because China has zero army resources to project meaningful force outside of its immediate vicinity. But long term? Oh boy did Trump bring a lot of other countries to shift to China.
1
Dry-Peach-6327 Apr 17, 2026 +2
Does AP not edit their shit anymore? What’s the “Mediterranean See”?
2
Spaceball86 Apr 17, 2026 +7
It's a Pope's holiday residence
7
20frvrz Apr 17, 2026 +1
Newsdesks started firing their copy editors and fact checkers back in Trump's first term, no joke. The integrity of our media has been in a slow downward spiral ever since, it's just been expedited recently.
1
Low-Invite2647 Apr 17, 2026 +2
I bet the sailors are loving that.🤦🏽‍♂️
2
refep Apr 16, 2026 +2
> The ship’s 295th day at sea surpassed the previous longest deployment by an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, when the USS Abraham Lincoln was sent out for 294 days in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by U.S. Naval Institute News, a news outlet run by the U.S. Naval Institute, a nonprofit organization. Huh why did the USS Abraham Lincoln spend 294 days at sea during covid
2
Sw0rdMaiden Apr 17, 2026 +3
Ask the Portsmouth electrical division working on the USS Harry Truman at the time. That's why the Abe was extended.
3
SaveTheAles Apr 16, 2026 +1
Do they get a ribbon for longest deployment?
1
Qcgreywolf Apr 16, 2026 +1
Ugh. I am so sorry my brothers in arms. I am soooo sorry.
1
MRHubrich Apr 17, 2026 +1
As a vet that has done 2 6-month deployments, I guarantee that my shipmates are not happy about it.
1
Direlion Apr 17, 2026 +1
These sailors are in the suck, of that I have no doubt.
1
macross1984 Apr 17, 2026 +1
Well, when you serve on aircraft carriers, you will run the risk of super deployment as it is happening now. Though modern carriers are immeasurably better than those from WW II aircraft carrier it is an warship and warship is not creature of comfort.
1
CalmTrifle Apr 17, 2026 +1
Remember, it is not just the Ford itself. There are other ships with her. This CSG has about 6,000 or more people.
1
StriveNJive88 Apr 17, 2026 +1
Prob gonna break that record a few more times over… it ain’t over
1
unhallowed1014 Apr 17, 2026 +1
Anyone have an idea of the average cost per day of keeping a carrier deployed is ?
1
Egon88 Apr 17, 2026 +1
>The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, broke the U.S. record Wednesday for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, a nearly 10-month span that saw it take part in both the military raid in Venezuela and the Iran war. Can anyone knowledgeable tell me, in a situation like this, is basically the same crew the whole time or would they be rotating people in (in large numbers I mean, not just a few people here and there) to prevent burnout? Would it be the same commanders the entire time as well?
1
20frvrz Apr 17, 2026 +2
It's the same crew the whole time.
2
Queermagedd0n Apr 17, 2026 +1
That's not a record we should be proud of...
1
veryboredatwork Apr 17, 2026 +1
I bet morale is really high among the crew who haven’t seen their families for ages….. sorry, I forgot they’re not humans but Hegseths ‘Warfighters’
1
Libinky Apr 17, 2026 +1
How’s the mess? No good food, no good toilets WTF? Who is commander in chief? Oh yeah
1
Leading-Debate-9278 Apr 17, 2026 +1
Nothing makes sailors happier than extending their tours.
1
Jeeves-Godzilla Apr 17, 2026 +1
Those poor families. The spouse is on the ship and the other at home taking care of kids by themselves for 10 months. They really need to rotate their crew, that is bad for morale
1
warrant2k Apr 17, 2026 +1
There's nothing honorable, heroic, or happy about this. Navy life, especially on an aircraft carrier is hard, grueling, loud, and dangerous. The crew needs port calls to catch a break, physically and mentally. Staying at sea, especially not during wartime, just wears them down. There is also the strain put on families at home. The sailor is missing births, deaths, birthdays, holidays, first steps, graduations, sports and events, the list goes on. This prolonged separation can strain the marriage, sometimes breaking them.
1
Traditional-Look8839 Apr 17, 2026 +1
Just out of curiosity, at what point on ship deployments does it stop feeling like you’re a soldier and morso a prisoner?
1
chasehundreds Apr 18, 2026 +1
Probably about 4-5 months depending on your rate (job). They try to bring morale up with beer, but it’s milestones set for that.
1
Jumpstart_411 Apr 18, 2026 +1
All that money. Someone is getting paid.
1
kctjfryihx99 Apr 18, 2026 +1
I know it’s not the point, but that’s not what “record” means
1
jackrabbit323 Apr 18, 2026 +1
A lot of what they say about military wives when their husbands go on long deployments is true. I'd believe it if they said they started the laundry fire on one of those carriers on purpose. A not insignificant number is going to come home to an empty house and divorce papers too.
1
armedandfriendly Apr 18, 2026 +1
I mean I wasn't in the Navy so I don't know what being on one for that long is like but my longest deployment was 15 months. 10 doesn't seem bad.
1
urbanek2525 Apr 18, 2026 +1
I remember visiting and bringing meals and stuff to my friend's family when he was deployed to Iraq for absolutely no good reason. The kids missed him. His wife was stoic, but exhausted. At least with Iraq, they could pretend it had something to do with 9/11. Protecting America, right? This time, it's almost impossible to pretend it's for a good cause. Maduro never hurt the US. Iran wasn't hurting the US. They're out there for an unreasonably long time for no good reason except to give Hegseth an excuse be stupid and embarrass the US Military again.
1
helly1080 Apr 18, 2026 +1
We should all be so proud. 
1
clera_echo Apr 19, 2026 +1
Alexander the Great’s soldiers mutinied when their campaign dragged on for too long, and they were winning, too.
1
AntiseptikCN Apr 19, 2026 +1
How's the food? Got enough TP, although the Gerald Ford probably has plenty...? I bet morale is in the toilet...
1
What_Is_This_1 Apr 19, 2026 +1
Is this the one you that pics of their food seems to show they are on restricted rations?
1
teddykaygeebee Apr 16, 2026 +1
Jfc. We were extended after a six-month deployment to help with Katrina. To me, that was insanely long. Sucks for them.
1
LavenderCas Apr 17, 2026 +1
What does the title mean? Breaks the record except in Vietnam someone was deployed longer? So, they have just been deployed for a long time?
1
IllustriousPhone98 Apr 17, 2026 +2
It's the longest in over 50 years. If that helps you.
2
makerofshoes Apr 17, 2026 +1
It’s confusing. My dad was on the USS Midway in the Vietnam war, which held the record for longest deployment. I remember in the 00’s in the war on terror there was a news story about how some ship was going to break that record, because my dad commented on it at the time. But now it says the Lincoln was deployed for 294 days and now the Ford is going to be 295. But then another article says that the Nimitz had a 341 day deployment in 2020/21, while the Midway was 332 days
1
20frvrz Apr 17, 2026 +2
I've been trying to get more information on this, and this is what I've found so far: * [The USS Midway was deployed for 327 days from April 10th, 1972 to March 3rd, 1973](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/vietnam/Midway%201973.pdf). I keep seeing 332 days as the reported number, but the link I provided contains those dates on page 4, which comes out to 327 days. * They keep reporting on "post-Cold War era" records, so they're talking about records that have been set since the end of the Cold War in 1991. * [The Nimitz was away from home for 341 days, however, it had extended isolation periods ashore to prevent COVID from spreading. ](https://news.usni.org/2026/04/15/uss-gerald-r-ford-breaks-post-cold-war-deployment-record)I'm not sure what the details of those periods are, but that appears to be the reason their record isn't counted. * Re: a ship breaking the Midway's record in the 00s - the only thing I can find is the [USS Abraham Lincoln's 290 day deployment in 2003](https://news.usni.org/2026/04/15/uss-gerald-r-ford-breaks-post-cold-war-deployment-record). It's been really hard to sort through these details, so if you or your dad have any insight I'd love to hear it! (I'm particularly perplexed by the dates of the Midway's deployment)
2
Hoodamush Apr 16, 2026 -3
For no reason… made up bull
-3
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