Is this what we can expect until the USS Ford is activated?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:25:23 -0400

This is what happens when you cut a 13 carrier minimum force to 10. There is just not enough to go around.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/06/09/strain-on-navy-resources-will-cause-mideast-carrier-gap.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm

Strain on Navy Resources Will Cause Mideast Carrier Gap

The Navy plans to pull its carrier presence from the Middle East this fall for as long as two months.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 9 at 2015 2:28 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:28:52 -0400

Tell me about it. If you're not on deployment you were going through work ups or on standby!

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Jun 9 at 2015 2:31 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:31:32 -0400

I would suggest adding 2 more to the fleet.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 2:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:47:56 -0400

You mean when we cut budgets for maintenance that it affects readiness?
Stunner.
You can't have it both ways. If you want to have the Navy operate everywhere, you have a fairly restricted timetable to work with in order to get them through maintenance, work ups, and deployments. This is a known quantity that the Navy is quite aware of.
Chickens are coming home to roost.
Aircraft Carriers have capabilities, physical and psychological, that other platforms simply lack. Without one in the mideast, how much do you want to bet that shenanigans will occur?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 2:48 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:48:47 -0400

Then there is this.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/06/09/with-tight-budget-how-many-carriers-are-enough.html

With Tight Budget, How Many Carriers Are Enough?

Aircraft carriers are perhaps the most powerful expression of U.S. might. They're also expensive and potentially vulnerable.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Jun 12 at 2015 12:33 PM

CPO Greg Frazho — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 12:33:52 -0400

Yes, and it'll probably get worse before it gets better. We had 12 of those beasts and I was on one of them when I went active in the early '90s. Ah, the old days.