The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Three Navy amphibious ships that left Norfolk ahead of schedule in March are set to stay at sea into February, which would make their cruise the longest ship deployment in decades.
The amphibious assault ship Bataan, the amphibious transport dock Mesa Verde and the dock landing ship Whidbey Island left Norfolk Naval Station on March 23, three months earlier than planned because of the unrest in Libya.
The thousands of sailors and Marines aboard the ships were recently told that their deployment will last about 10 1/2 months, Lt. Cmdr. Bill Urban, a spokesman with Naval Surface Force Atlantic, confirmed Monday. Navy officials and the publication Navy Times, which first reported the extension, said that would make the Bataan group's cruise the longest in decades. Typical deployments last six to seven months.
After the Bataan group left Norfolk, it spent three weeks training in the Atlantic. The ships then steamed to the Mediterranean, where the Bataan relieved the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, which was involved in early strikes into Libya. The Kearsarge spent 8 1/2 months at sea before coming home in May; it left Norfolk ahead of schedule to help flood victims in Pakistan.
In August, the Bataan arrived in the Arabian Gulf for its planned deployment, replacing the West Coast-based Boxer.
Since leaving Norfolk, each of the ships in the Bataan group has spent about a month in port in various cities. The Bataan has had four port visits, the Mesa Verde five, and the Whidbey Island six.
Corinne Reilly, (757) 446-2949, corinne.reilly@pilotonline.com
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I am writing this because the Sailor and Marines are lost
We are wondering why after all was ask from us, from doing drills on a Friday morning in 3 section duty to telling our family sorry for leaving early 3 months oh and we are also extended.How come the ships we replaced have not stepped up as we did for them? We stopped our lives because a ship was not ready. It feels as if all the push to complete a 27 week work up cycle which was completed in 17 weeks was a set up. Why a 10 1/2 month deployment? We understand Honor, Courage, and Commitment but where is the honor when the chain of command spoke to our families and lied to them by saying we will be home for Christmas, all we see is the courage it took to say it and the commitment it took to hold the truth back. We are human first!
Expect more long deployments
With the way the Navy is shrinking, we can expect to see more long deployments. Military cutbacks HAVE to happen to balance the budget. It is just a question of what gets cuts. The Navy and Marines are our nation's best emergency reaction force. They need to be kept up to date with enough numbers so as not to wear them out and stretch them too thin.
I wish those going a safe and productive tour.
disgust
I am a spouse of a Bataan sailor and yes I am ashamed to say it!!!!.I too was at pre-deployment brief when the CO lied about the return date.yes sadly the little Admiral maker rides again.this is one of the worst commands in the Navy....I left this horrid ship only to have my husband go on this nut house. No other ship is doing year long deployment except the USS BATAAN which is always volunteering for underwater. Maybe if the CO, XO and CMC had of lied through their teeth about this delpoyment it would have meet with better reception. I know a couple of micro who could command this ship better!!!!!
not the only one
The Bataan isn't the only ship in the group (My husband is on the Mesa Verde with the Bataan). And they didn't LIE about the return date to start. But, yes, the Bataan isn't the best ship to be on.
Disgust!!!
What sickens me the most is the fact that a few of you actually sit on here and make comments on the length of the deployment and say "oh mine was so much longer and I didn't complain" What do you think you're doing by posting that crap! IT'S NOT A COMPETITION! My husband is on the Bataan and left Norfolk with the ship back in March. Yeah you know what, IT SUCKS but it is his job. You're right he knew what he signed up for, and I knew what I married into. Yes, I complain, it sucks being the single parent left home to manage life with our children without him. We miss him EVERYDAY and count the days for his return. IT DOESN'T HELP to read ignorant comments when we read articles regarding the ship. Have some RESPECT!!
Deployment length
I don't understand why so many people are saying that this deployment was extended twice. We were told at the pre-deployment briefing for spouses (if you took the time to go...and may I recommend you go to the one before the next deployment if you haven't gone before) that the orders for the deployment were open ended with 7 months being the minimum amount of time for them to be gone. We were told that it would be possible, but not probable for them to be home for the new year. We should be proud of who we are and what our Sailors and Marines are doing. We are lucky to be here in the states for the upcoming holidays. Let's focus on how to make life better for those away and less time having a pity party for ourselves.
That's right...
And that's why no one should ever complain about military retirees receiving a fairly nice pension...they've earned every penny of it!!!
Kucky it was Vietnam Era
Deployments, at least for the Marine Corp, was a 13 month commitment. Their "port call" was a 5dy R & R about 6 months in. Also a lot of them actually were shot at. 13 months in country was routine, not an exception. I think of that when I hear a bunch of "boo hoo's" when people talk of multiple deployments to Iraq. A typical Iraq deployments equals 1 deployment in the Vietnam era.
They Have Multiple Deployments
But during Vietnam, we did not have the repeat deployments that the Marines have today. If the Corps was your career, you probably went back for a second tour, but that was it. So when it's all counted up, the Marines today -- and for most of a decade -- have spent more time in-country than we did in Vietnam.
the issue was the length of deploytemen, no time in country
The issue was the length of deployment not time in country. Even today some tours by the infantry is 13-14 months. The Navy has no reason to complain.