'Blocked toilets, missed funerals': US's Iran deployment taxing sailors
What's the story
The extended deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, the United States's largest aircraft carrier, is taking a toll on its crew members and their families. The ship has been at sea since June last year, with its mission originally focused on the Mediterranean region. However, in October, the Pentagon diverted it to the Caribbean for oil-tanker seizures and an operation against Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
Personal impact
Personal sacrifices of sailors
The ship's crew members have made significant personal sacrifices due to the extended deployment. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, one sailor missed his great-grandfather's funeral, while another is contemplating leaving the Navy after being away from her toddler daughter for almost a year. Additionally, two sailors reported sewage issues on board the ship.
Report
Carrier cost $13 billion to build
In January, NPR reported that the plumbing system on the carrier was deteriorating. The carrier that cost $13 billion to build has nonfunctional toilets, with sailors working around the clock to fix leaks. "Since it's a vacuum system, a problem with one head can cause all of the toilets in that part of the ship to lose suction, making it difficult for the maintenance crews to isolate a problem," NPR reported.
New orders
New mission area for Ford
Earlier this year, the crew learned that their deployment would be extended again. They are now headed back across the Atlantic to the Middle East in support of possible American airstrikes on Iran. The Ford recently transited through the Strait of Gibraltar, heading eastward toward its new mission area, according to media outlets claiming possession of satellite images.
Morale impact
Concerns over crew morale and future in Navy
The extended deployment has raised concerns over crew morale and their families. The aircraft carrier is part of the Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12), one of the four carrier strike groups operational in the US Navy. Other units currently assigned to CSG-12 include Carrier Air Wing Eight, the Arleigh Burke-class USS Winston S Churchill (DDG-81), and Destroyer Squadron 2.