George H. W. Bush homecoming

Welcome home George H. W. Bush Strike Group. I was in Virginia Beach last Saturday and saw the carrier offshore waiting for the tide, then enter the channel for her homecoming at Pier 12. Carrier Air Wing Eight had flown off the day before. Joyous photos of family reunions and well wishes on Facebook and text messages of congratulations on thousands of phones. Job well done, and we owe today's veterans our thanks and appreciation for fighting this away game for us.

Ten months is a long time to be deployed. Cases can be made that Army "Long War" deployments are longer and that a 10 month carrier deployment is not without precedent such as Abraham Lincoln's in 2002-03. The fact is that ten months is still a long time on cruise, with ships, aircraft, and people wearing out at alarming rates. People are the most important, and they will be making career decisions in the coming years. If they know their service is valuable and appreciated, they will stay, but after a cruise of this length many more than usual will leave regardless of their sense of accomplishment and exhortations to stay.

It takes 2 years to build a jet, five to build a carrier, but 20+ to build a competent sailor. Nobody wants a ten month cruise - in recent decades six months appears to be the sweet spot - and strike group deployments of this extended length take a toll on all concerned. The Long War has heated up, with naval and air forces taking increased roles, and yet our country continues to use the military as a bill payer which places extreme pressure on those tasked to manage this problem with limited resources.

Yes they volunteered - and may volunteer to leave before their time. As Kipling said, Tommy ain't no bloomin' fool.