Nearly 4,500 sailors returned to Virginia after what Navy officials called the longest carrier strike group deployment since the Vietnam War.
After nearly 11 months at sea, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group returned home Saturday, marking the end of a record-breaking deployment that Navy officials said was the longest for a carrier strike group since the Vietnam War.
The strike group, which deployed in June 2025, spent months supporting U.S. military and maritime operations overseas.
Returning to Norfolk, Virginia were nearly 4,500 sailors assigned to the Gerald R. Ford, along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the homecoming ceremony, welcoming sailors alongside their families after the extended deployment.
During the deployment, the strike group supported Operations Southern Spear and Absolute Resolve in the Caribbean, including operations connected to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The group later supported Operation Epic Fury tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The lengthy deployment also brought challenges aboard the carrier. In March, a fire in a laundry area injured two sailors and displaced hundreds of crew members from their sleeping quarters. Reports of plumbing and bathroom issues also surfaced during the mission.
In a statement, Rep. Elaine Luria described the nearly yearlong deployment as “incredibly long, challenging, and demanding,” while thanking sailors and their families for their service and sacrifice.
