The Navy has said sailors should expect a greater number of lengthy deployments for the foreseeable future, because of logistics and financial concerns the military service is facing.
Navy Chief of Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman, said last week at the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation that current combat operations necessitated extended the stints at sea while the Navy deals with increased pressure on its resources.
“We have told the most recent strike group that deployed to expect between 10 and 11 months,” Perryman said, in comments reported by Forbes last Thursday. “It’s just…if you look at what we have available and the way we’re burning, the CNO and I just think that’s what it’s going to be.”
Military.com reached out to the Navy for comment.
Concern About Lengthy Naval Deployments
Perryman’s comments come after a summer of concern about the well-being of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a vessel that spent months at sea, sparking concerns about the mental health of sailors aboard it.
Eight crew members on the carrier attempted suicide during their deployment, the Navy confirmed in September, while naval families detailed safety concerns, food shortages, water contamination, and disruption in the mail system on the ship. The varied scrutiny prompted reactions from congressional lawmakers and President Donald Trump.
After its lengthy deployment, the USS Abraham Lincoln docked in Pattaya, Thailand, for a temporary reprieve. The vessel was replaced by the USS George Washington.
Naval leaders acknowledged that sailors want stability and awareness about the lengths of their deployments in the future.
“Nobody wants an 11-month deployment. Everybody understands that,” Perryman said. “But what they really don’t like is getting told it’s seven months, and then every two weeks getting a change. It’s the uncertainty. They can’t plan for it.”
“I think sailors are willing to do extended deployments past the seven-month scheduled period, but they like to know what that extension’s going to be,” Caudle added.
Caudle also said that the United States’ ongoing war in Iran has created a financial burden and logistical challenges regarding resupplying ships that have been deployed for long periods.
“You can imagine that [Operation] Epic Fury was kicked off without the planning that was done for the [Fiscal Year] ’26 budget,” he said, adding that the Navy will need “a year’s long recovery” to get back on track.
