US Soldiers & Iran: Morale Issues & Aircraft Carrier Problems

KOMPAS.com – The extension of the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford for the second time by the President of the United States (US) Donald Trump, triggered enormous pressure for thousands of Navy (AL) soldiers and their families.

A number of crew members said they began considering leaving the US Navy upon arrival at their home port, after almost a year away from home.

One of the sailors did not have time to receive news of the death of his great-grandfather, while another crew member admitted that he was devastated because he had been separated from his toddler daughter for months.

Also read: US says its large military fleet will not attack Iran, so what?

Two other sailors also expressed problems with the ship’s sewer system in the toilet.

11 months at sea

The largest US warship has been sailing since June 2025.

In October, the Pentagon shifted Ford’s mission from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to support the seizure of oil tankers, as well as the US operation to capture Nicolas Maduro, then President of Venezuela.

Early this year, the crew received news again that their term of duty had been extended. The ship will return across the Atlantic Ocean to the Middle East to support potential American air strikes against Iran.

Obtained satellite photo Wall Street Journal shows that the aircraft carrier Ford crossed the Strait of Gibraltar on Friday (20/2/2026) and moved eastward.

Under peacetime conditions, carrier assignments typically last six months with the possibility of additional months if needed, said retired rear admiral Mark Montgomery.

Montgomery said the Ford crew had been away from home for eight months, and now had the potential to serve up to 11 months.

This duration has the potential to break the record for the longest continuous deployment in US Navy history.

The US Navy has 11 aircraft carriers with a long-planned rotation schedule.

Some ships are stationed in various areas, some are undergoing training, and others are undergoing maintenance.

Apart from Ford, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group were also deployed to the Middle East.

In an official statement, Navy officials acknowledged the challenges in this service, and emphasized that leadership prioritizes support for sailors and their families.

High workload is not only experienced by you Ford.

In April and May 2025, the USS Harry S Truman lost several fighter jets while facing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

A Navy investigation concluded that the mission’s high operational tempo was a contributing factor to the incident.

Also read: Entering the Mediterranean, the US Advanced Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R Ford is getting closer to Iran

Confess the crew of the US aircraft carrier

JIM WATSON/AFP US President Donald Trump was greeted by the commander of the aircraft carrier Gerald R Ford, Captain Rick McCormack on the landing deck of the new ship.

A sailor on the Ford said to Wall Street Journalmany crew members were angry and disappointed.