Tuesday, September 29, 2020

"Record Breaking" Deployments - Nothing to be Proud of


In a time of relative peace, when we are in general agreement that for over the last decade+ we have overworked our Sailors and under-maintained our ships - I'm not sure breaking these kind of records is anything our Navy should be proud of; 

Destroyer USS Stout (DDG-55) recently achieved a record-breaking deployment length after operating at sea for more than 200 days, the Navy announced.

As of Sept. 26, the destroyer had been at sea for 208 straight days, breaking cruiser USS San Jacinto’s (CG-56) and aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s (CVN-69) records, according to a Navy press release.

...

Destroyer USS Kidd (DDG-100) also recently wrapped up a record deployment after performing a series of counter-narcotics missions within U.S. 4th Fleet. The destroyer arrived at Naval Station Everett, Wash., its homeport, on Sept. 21.

Our Sailors and their ships will give us all they have when asked - and we should be proud of their hard work and loyalty to their Navy. As for those who sent them; a responsible service and nation will not ask for such sacrifices so cheaply;

“As a Sentinel ship, Stout spent 139 days in direct or associated support of the task force to ensure the free flow of commerce,” the service added. “Stout provided overwatch for more than 550 vessels as they transited critical chokepoints and delivered 1,500 maritime awareness calls to regional commercial shipping.”

... 

“This deployment has been extremely challenging, but Kidd set the standard for operational mission execution and readiness,” Cmdr. Nathan Wemett, the commanding officer of Kidd, said in a statement. “I thank all the Sailors and U.S. Coast Guardsmen who overcame many obstacles in order to carry out our mission.”

Not a record ... but a grim milestone.

It is clear that we have learned nothing and changed nothing since 2017 to our great collective shame.

Shame on everyone here with 3 to 4 stars on their uniform who refused to say, "no."

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