The New York Times
Los hombres y mujeres del portaaviones Gerald R. Ford pasarán la Nochebuena en el mar y no en casa, mientras el sexto mes de su movilización llega a su fin el miércoles. Por The New York Times Lo que comenzó como un crucero por Europa y el Mediterráneo para los aproximadamente 4500 marineros del Ford cambió drásticamente el […]
TL;DR
- The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 4,500 sailors are nearing the end of their sixth month deployed at sea, spending Christmas Eve away from home.
- The deployment shifted from Europe to the Caribbean on Oct. 24, following an order to support pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- Peacetime deployments typically do not exceed six months, contrasting with the current extended mission.
- Concerns exist about the impact of prolonged deployment on crew morale and the potential for increased costs due to delayed crucial maintenance on the aircraft carrier.
- The Ford is scheduled for major maintenance and refit at Newport News Naval Shipyards early next year, which could be affected by the extended deployment.
- Retired Navy aviator Sen. Mark Kelly noted that extended deployments can lead to wear and tear on the ship and crew, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Rep. Nick LaLota expressed confidence in the ship's mission to combat narcoterrorists and appreciation for the sailors' sacrifice.
- Vice Adm. Mike Franken warned that delaying maintenance could lead to a cost spiral and impact the ship's operational readiness.
- The effectiveness of the Caribbean deployment in influencing Venezuela's conduct is still an open question.
- The U.S. has begun intercepting tankers leaving Venezuela to disrupt its oil trade as part of the pressure campaign.