USS Ford Sailors Struggle With a Marathon Deployment

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has been at sea much longer than planned, and the strain is showing for the roughly 5,000 sailors aboard and their families back home. Originally scheduled for a roughly six‑month peacetime tour, the deployment has now stretched beyond eight months and could reach about 11 months — possibly the longest continuous cruise in the U.S. Navy’s modern era.

The carrier was first redirected from the Mediterranean to support U.S. operations related to Venezuela last year. More recently, President Trump ordered the ship to sail toward the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.

Sailors and their relatives say this extended time at sea has taken a personal toll. Many have missed family milestones like birthdays and funerals, with some saying the long absence — combined with lived hardship — has led them to consider leaving the Navy altogether.

Part of the challenge has been basic life aboard the ship. Multiple reports describe ongoing problems with the carrier’s vacuum‑based sewage system, which was designed to reduce water use but has repeatedly clogged and caused widespread bathroom outages. Sailors have reportedly waited in long lines for functioning facilities, and maintenance teams have worked around the clock to keep the system running.

Navy leaders say the USS Ford remains fully capable of carrying out its mission even as equipment issues and extended duty add pressure. “When our country calls, we answer,” said the carrier’s commanding officer, Capt. David Skarosi, acknowledging the sacrifices being made by the crew.

Critics argue that such long deployments strain both personnel and the ships themselves, raising questions about readiness and maintenance when vessels are kept at sea far beyond typical planning cycles.

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