Carrier deployments will be less often but longer

[unhappycamper]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/01/carrier-deployments-will-be-less-often-longer

Carrier deployments will be less often but longer
By Mike Hixenbaugh
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 17, 2014

Thousands of sailors in Hampton Roads will deploy less frequently but for longer periods under a new policy the Navy is launching later this year.

Adm. Bill Gortney, the four-star head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, announced this week that the service is overhauling the deployment cycle of aircraft carrier strike groups, which have been stretched thin by federal budget cuts and more than a decade of war.

Under current operations, aircraft carriers depart once every 32 months on deployments that are billed to last six to seven months. But global demands often stretch those tours to nine or 10 months, straining sailors, their families and maintenance schedules.

Starting in November, Gortney said Wednesday at a Navy symposium in Washington, carrier strike groups will deploy once every 36 months on cruises that will be scheduled to last eight months. The longer maintenance cycle should allow for more consistency at home, Gortney said.

[Victor_c3]

1. Seems like they still see less deployments than the Army

- considering you want to compare the intensity of a Navy deployment to an Army deployment...

When I was active duty Army from 2002-2007, you could count on being deployed Iraq or Afghanistan about 1 out of every 2 to 2.5 years. Hanging out for 8 Months on a ship out of every 36 months would be a nice life.