Wall Street Journal: USS. Gerald Ford’s recourse to Iran sparks anger among its crew
The Wall Street Journal, revealed in a report a state of frustration and anger prevailing among the crew members of the aircraft carrier USS. Gerald Ford, after the decision to extend their naval mission and divert the ship to the Middle East, in a move that sources inside the ship described as very sudden and tiring.
The Wall Street Journal quoted military personnel aboard the carrier as saying that morale had dropped sharply, especially after the crew members were due to return home in a few weeks, only to find themselves stretched out on a new forced mission in an open area of tension.
Some said they were seriously considering resigning as soon as they left their service, expressing their displeasure with the harsh working conditions and the sudden change in plans.
Captain David Skarosi, the ship’s captain, admitted to the WSJ that he was personally surprised by the decision, noting that he had already informed his family that his return home was approaching, before the order was issued to move the ship to new missions in the Middle East.
In addition to the psychological impact on the crew, the WSJ revealed technical problems that emerged on board the ship due to the length of the deployment, including malfunctions in the sewage system and the accumulation of the need for periodic maintenance that was delayed for months.
According to experts, the carrier’s prolonged stay at sea without maintenance threatens its combat efficiency and puts equipment at risk of failure.
The aircraft carrier Gerald Ford left Norfolk, Virginia, in June and headed for the Caribbean in October, before turning to the Middle East on a lengthy mission.
It’s estimated that the ship’s deployment could last for 11 months without interruption, setting a new record in the history of the US Navy in terms of the length of time at sea.
