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USS Gerald R. Ford Heads Home After 10-Month Deployment
The carrier will return to Virginia after more than 300 days at sea, a deployment that included operations in Iran and the Caribbean, officials said.
In mid-May, the USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East after a nearly 10-month deployment, returning to its Virginia home port with approximately 4,500 personnel aboard.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated operational requirements in Southcom and Centcom 'demanded additional assets in real time,' leading to the extension through a 'tough decision-making process' involving readiness and maintenance trade-offs.
The carrier's 295-day tour set a record for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, surpassing the USS Lincoln's 294-day record from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Returning now, the Ford requires immediate maintenance and inspections, forcing schedule reshuffling that reduces carrier availability across the U.S. naval fleet in the Middle East.
Although three American aircraft carriers recently operated in the Middle East—a level unseen since 2003—the Ford's departure signals potential strain on sailors' welfare and fleet readiness.