Monday, February 23, 2026-Life aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford has become far more than the usual grueling routine for its nearly 5,000‑member crew. What was meant to be a routine deployment has stretched into more than eight months at sea, with orders now extending them even further amid rising tensions with Iran.
The prolonged mission is taking a serious personal toll on sailors and their families — from missing critical life events like funerals and birthdays to dealing with persistent problems in onboard facilities that sap morale.
Sailors have spoken candidly about the strain of being away from home so long. One crew member missed the death of a great‑grandfather, while another, separated from her toddler, is seriously considering leaving the Navy altogether when this deployment finally ends. Technical issues — including frequent sewage system malfunctions — compound the stress, turning something as basic as a blocked toilet into a daily frustration that underscores how worn down many feel.
The extended time at sea isn’t just an inconvenience — it disrupts lives back home and chips away at retention. Extended deployments can mean missing weddings and births too, leaving families to cope on their own for months.
With the Ford’s deployment now poised to challenge records for longest continuous service at sea, the human cost is unfolding quietly beneath the geopolitical headlines, prompting concern from within military leadership about the broader effects on morale and readiness.
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