What A Navy Deployment Is Like

In this video, you can see what a U.S. Navy deployment is like and understand why the operations are important. The crew of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) began a seven month deployment in October 2016 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Port visits included Singapore, Bahrain, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Hawaii.

[@davidandrews3615]

I'm 84 years old now and tell my great grandkids stories about the US Salamonie AO26 fueling the 6th fleet in the Med. My skipper was Capt. Edward L Beach. Those were days my friend and they will never end.

[@EricZeak]

That's fantastic! I bet you have some good stories. Thank you for serving.

[@marks6406]

Thank you sir ..... we stand on your shoulders USMC

[@royhoward38]

In 1961 i rode the Salamonie from Naples to Genoa to join my ship the FDR . Good ship good crew .

[@jonesygirl79]

Thank your for your service sir, future navy or Air Force here

[@oldcop18]

I’m 74 and sailed on the USS Bryce Canyon for two years in the mid ‘60s. I really enjoyed being at sea, there’s no comparison.

[@TheBatugan77]

My CO used to say, "We're aren't on any 'cruise'. We don't do 'cruises'. We're not a cruise ship. We do deployments."

[@EricZeak]

Right on! What ship were you on?

[@EricZeak]

@JN - 06BA 906155 Williams Parkway Sr PS Only if it's necessary to protect the ship.

[@EricZeak]

@JN - 06BA 906155 Williams Parkway Sr PS The whites are one of our dress uniforms. We wore them when we returned to San Diego from deployment.

[@EricZeak]

@JN - 06BA 906155 Williams Parkway Sr PS Awesome. The Canadian Navy?

[@nahanng7791]

I graduated bootcamp May 13th 2021. Currently at A school now. Will be reporting to my command duty at Norfolk Naval base on the USS DDG 58 Laboon soon on June 11th 2021. Really looking forward to my Navy career.

[@EricZeak]

Congratulations! I hope everything works out well for you.

[@MichaelJohnson-ip9sj]

Congratulations. Make sure you work hard and follow directions from your superiors. The first few years are difficult until you make E4. Stay positive and enjoy those Med cruises.

[@kelinflores862]

I also graduated bootcamp may 13 2021. That's crazy.

[@oldfucker68]

OPSEC. Learn it.

[@popeyethesailorman7850]

3 pieces of advice for you from a retired Navy guy....Stay in, get you a couple of degrees, and save money so when you decide to get out, you'll be set

[@toastnjam7384]

I Joined the Navy to see the world and then I found out the world is 70% water. USN 70-73 - USS Kitty Hawk

[@EricZeak]

At least you got to see a lot of water

[@kellywilson8440]

Its called serving your country is all , I did it myself and thank you for serving !

[@EricZeak]

Thank you Kelly!

[@ethangregg702]

Kerry left kept left arm faced bina hip replacement bitch goes last!

[@davidcollison8973]

I was on the USS Forrestal in 1986 and that deployment was awesome. We departed Jacksonville on June 2nd and hit Naples 20 days later. Spend 5 days in Naples then sailed for about 20 days the. Hit Palma de Mallorca for 14 days! Sailed for about 10 days and hit Palermo Sicily for a week. Sailed for 10 days then hit Cannes France for 10 days. Sailed for 15 days then hit Naples again for a week. Sailed for a few days then hit Livorno Italy for five days. Sailed for two weeks hit Palma on the way out of the Med and was back home November 11. The reason why we were not hazy gray and underway for six months was that the sixth fleet blew through their operating budget messing around with Libya the prior quarter and there was no money to keep us at sea! Great times on that cruise

[@dynjarren5454]

US Navy...thank you for doing what you do. All I ask is that you do it safe while showing any potential enemies out there that you are like a really mean dog guarding a big back yard

[@julespr9409]

So proud of my son on the MKI right now!!

[@EricZeak]

You should be! Hope everything is going well for him.

[@ikeriascott7946]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6❤️

[@EricZeak]

Thank you!

[@ralphdenson4058]

A carrier is real busy I mean real busy. I was on a destroyer and pull up along side to get fuel, mail, ice cream, etc. they were busy over there. We just watched all the activity in awe.

[@EricZeak]

I agree. Carriers are massive and super busy. What destroyer were you on, and what was your experience like in the Navy?

[@ralphdenson4058]

@@EricZeak in the Indian Ocean with Enterprise. I was on Rathburne ff1057 and Harold E Holt for 1074. We did asw watch and downed pilot recovery. I was in that area when no storms calm sea. When you’re with a carrier expect to be at sea 45 days at a time. They are a very high demand attention and activity ship. Don’t get nearly the port calls that a destroyer can get.

[@EricZeak]

Nice! I was on an amphibious assault ship and didn't get very good port calls either.

[@davidandrews3615]

I remember my deployment aboard the late and great USS Salamonie AO26 and all the dedicated officers and sailors.

[@6mojo]

Did my time in Royal Marines included sailing from Singapore to Tokyo via Hong Kong & visited the US Embassy there to have a few wets with the US Marine Guards,then to Tokyo for British week in 1970 !! Great memories! Also did 2 tours in Borneo in 64/66 plus Nov /67 sailed to Aden to cover the final withdrawal.

[@EricZeak]

You've been all over!

[@leonardnordenstrom6239]

to do a deployment is what a real man is about !

[@jss6691]

I served on the USS Mars (AFS-1) 1990 - 1993 & USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) 1993. It was a great experience, I really enjoyed it. I was an Operations Specialist 3rd Class Petty Officer.

[@EricZeak]

That's great! How did you like being an Operations Specialist?

[@geraldmurphy1428]

Bring' s back memories. I did two cruise' , i enjoy every moment. God- Bless our sailor' s. ⚓⚓⚓🇺🇸🇺🇸👍

[@EricZeak]

What ship were you on?

[@geraldmurphy1428]

@@EricZeak U.SS Frankllin D Roosevelt Air Craft Carrie. 1975. ⚓⚓⚓🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@EricZeak]

Very nice!

[@geraldmurphy1428]

@@EricZeak thank- you

[@kobzster06]

Same here, did two West pacs on the USS Lincoln, a looong time ago ha ha. Great times, met amazing people that I still keep in touch with almost 30 years ago.

[@davidschuff3039]

Boy, do I miss those days, my 1st 2 ships, were both gator Navy, 1968-70. Also, thanks 4 the REVEILE call. Miss that too, every am at 6

[@EricZeak]

Glad it could bring back good memories.

[@ronnieam33]

"Very few Port Calls"..... the crew says "Wonderful" !!!

[@EricZeak]

That's the Navy way.

[@randomcoyote8807]

Good job, Navy; respect from an old Army dog. You guys do good work.

[@nancysmith9487]

Something special... Nice job, hooay

[@EricZeak]

Thank you, Nancy!

[@NavyCopMA1]

Just saw this one roll across my feed and checked it out... All of my ships (save the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72) are all scrap now and I didn't think I was that old!! How Sigonella these days? I spent 3 years in Naples (89 - 92) and drove the Amalfi Coast several times among other places.

[@EricZeak]

Sigonella is great! Staying busy. Thanks for your comment!

[@mnz6324ify]

US Navy Deployment is not bad what people try to say, to me its a free six months overseas cruise on the Government's dime. Of course its stressful being away from family and friends but that is reality that is part of your life in the military . Military is not a job its a lifestyle, you get to see to see other countries that you only hear or watch on the internet and basically you can see the world as is unfiltered without the media telling you what the world suppose to be. I was blessed to deploy with the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67(2002, 2004), VC-6 IA Deployment Mosul Iraq 2007, USS Nimitz CVN-68 (2014).

[@James-ws6du]

USS Barry DD-933 1976 TO 1980 FTG3 SAW ALOT OF THE WORLD

[@darrenrichings4091]

I wish i could go back and do it all over, except with all the changes that have come about and not at combat all the time.REST EASY USS TRIPOLI

[@EricZeak]

Thank you for serving.

[@tonyharty3666]

McHail’s Navy…..the blood, the guts, and the beer. Oh……and the girls. GMG3 Vietnam Vet USN

[@philiphorner31]

We weren't underway on time. America was seriously worn out. 7 months over on a 9 month yard. 1980's

[@loryleneburce3668]

Sir can you help me I am looking for a man I met in subic on October 91 he's name is Michael Coligde I'm not really sure the spelling of his last name but it sounds like that,he called Como by his companion when I met him,Abraham Lincoln ship stayed only about 3 nights in subic coz there's a typhoon during that time ,Pls help me I want to know about him,He's bday is August 27 1947

[@oldsalt7534]

2:29 "All hands are "invited" for a FOD walkdown on the flight deck. LOL

[@popeyethesailorman7850]

I do miss the FOD walkdowns

[@stanstenson8168]

@@popeyethesailorman7850 I do too.

[@JJ-rf7dg]

I wish I could go back in but with E.O.D. (retired). Go NAVY!

[@EricZeak]

Thank you!

[@RetiredSailor60]

I deployed on USS Cape Cod AD 43, USS Whidbey Island LSD 41 (Twice), and USS Wasp LHD 1. Stationed with COMUSNAVCENT in Bahrain embarked on USS LaSalle AGF 3.

[@EricZeak]

Wow! That's great! Were they all good experiences?

[@RetiredSailor60]

@@EricZeak Yes all were good experiences. Cape Cod deployment was to the Western Pacific. Spent time in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, & Philippines. Held my first re-enlistment ceremony on USS Arizona Memorial. Spent a year in the Persian Gulf. Went to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, & Pakistan. On Whidbey Island I sailed around South America, through the Panama Canal, to West Africa, became a trusty Shellback, sailed through the English Channel to Norway, deployed to the Mediterranean. Stopped in Spain, Tunisia, Crete, Venice, Bari, and Brindisi, Italy, completed the pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On Wasp, I was part of the Global War on Terrorism. Visited Bahrain, Turkey, Crete, and Spain.

[@EricZeak]

@@RetiredSailor60 Sounds like you've been all over the world!

[@RetiredSailor60]

@@EricZeak Yes I have been pretty much all over the world. Wished I could have visited Australia, Thailand, Singapore, France, and Greece. Plus a few more interesting and historical countries...

[@lancefogle1433]

I was a Hospital Food Service Specialists 🤗

[@poemarnan5498]

I was on a AOE in early 90s. Nightmares of UNREP.

[@EricZeak]

But I bet you got pretty good at UNREPs on an AOE, right? Do you miss it?

[@poemarnan5498]

@@EricZeak Not at all.

[@michaelb.8953]

I was a Gunner's Mate on a west coast based AE in the early 90's and you're right I would dread an UNREP. We had one or two that lasted 36+ hours straight of backbreaking no sleep for the duration until the job was done, it's a good thing I was young back then.

[@nyprineandy]

I was on MEU from Okinawa to Subic bay back in 2005

[@MsAlexandriaA]

What was this like?

[@ottf24]

A lot of hour at sea, great liberty ports and save enough for a Rolex watch if wanted

[@markrocksfordaze]

Going to this ship

[@Juancho297]

I always had admiration for the United States Navy

[@EricZeak]

Thank you, Juan.

[@leonardnordenstrom6239]

been, there, done that!

[@EricZeak]

Where and when did you deploy?

[@harveylin3548]

So glad I actually did Japan, that was real cruise, hitting a port at least once a month, sometimes every 2 weeks! I never saved any money during my three years there, because so many port calls once on deployment.

[@EricZeak]

I've met a lot of people who say they really enjoyed being stationed in Japan.

[@navychop6667]

What ship? I was stationed in Yokosuka from '97 - '99 on the USS VIncennes (CG 49). Spent more days in South Korea than I can count... but did enjoy our deployments.

[@harveylin3548]

@@navychop6667 Shitty kitty.

[@navychop6667]

@@harveylin3548 Yeah, I remember when she replaced the Independence. Thank you for your service.

[@popeyethesailorman7850]

@@navychop6667 I was on the Midway and cross decked to the Indy in Pearl Harbor. a total of 9 years in Yokosuka

[@texasred3335]

Can’t wait to enlist 🇺🇸

[@EricZeak]

That's great! Are you going to enlist in the Navy? What kind of job are you thinking about?

[@texasred3335]

@@EricZeak I’m debating between navy and marines. Going to talk to recruiters next week ! 😁

[@EricZeak]

Very cool! Hope it works out for you.

[@johnnynunezz]

Just wait till you’re on barracks support😂

[@anthonyvera551]

letme help you rn, GO TO THE AIR FORCE LMAO

[@timanderson5543]

My squadron deployed on Ike for 9 months in 1980.

[@EricZeak]

How was it?

[@stevengoodman7167]

It's hard to be motivated if your not getting sleep and working about 100 hours a week

[@rogaineablar5608]

Wow, that bell & whistle at the beginning are way too loud compared to the rest of the audio track.

[@EricZeak]

Thank you for your input.

[@estellemelodimitchell8259]

Is the ship’s captain, the guy shown in the interview here, an aviator? He looks to be in a flight suit.

[@EricZeak]

Yes, he is an aviator.

[@estellemelodimitchell8259]

@@EricZeak Wow, I’m really impressed with the Captain’s resume. Not only he knows how to fly an aircraft, but he knows to sail a ship too.

[@lancefogle1433]

I served in the Navy for 4 years and the Army Reserve for 3 years and I was activated for Desert Storm and sent to FORT SAM HOUSTON and I would do it all over again 😑😑🤗

[@EricZeak]

Was it a big change going from the Navy to the Army Reserves?

[@antoniobetancourt7926]

What did you do at JBSA Fort Sam Huston? I’m here now graduated Corpsmen A-School and I leave in 2 weeks.

[@shrirammoond6393]

I am still not understanding why these pipes are used..They were used at the time when no announcement system available onboard..This is very irritating when you are sleeping after night duty and this nonsense thing start at 0600

[@EricZeak]

I guess the only reason is that the Navy is big on tradition.

[@shrirammoond6393]

@@EricZeak May be but it is very outdated and unusefull..

[@texasred2702]

They condition you to understand and respond to the boatswain's whistle because there may be a situation when modern communication systems are down and that's all that's available. Additionally, a lot of shipboard operating equipment a) runs on lower frequencies, and b) is really, really loud and that whistle cuts right through both.

[@PAPIOSO908]

How is deployment on a ship for long a time at a end

[@EricZeak]

Deployment on a ship can be tough, but coming back was incredible. I remember pulling back into San Diego and being so happy to see the city. A lot of family members were waiting on the pier, and that was a sight to see. Everybody was so happy to be back.

[@SD2024p]

@@EricZeak deployment is moving around oversea right? My Boyfriend is Rota, Spain now. i don't when we can meet. it's really sad.

[@EricZeak]

@@SD2024p Yes, a deployment is when the ship goes overseas. I hope you will see your boyfriend soon!

[@SelenaBESTT]

@@EricZeak does the ships ever go back on land during the deployment? Or does it go back on land when the deployment is over? And are the sailors able to use WhatsApp while on the ship?

[@loryleneburce3668]

He works in Abraham Lincoln ship 16 yrs during that time he have friend named Kevin a black man,He said Michael is his boss,Michael is 47 yrs old during that time,Hope you can help me Sir,Thank you and God bless

[@EricZeak]

I don't know anyone by that name. I hope you find who you are looking for.

[@misterbig9025]

How did these people stand still for so long?

[@EricZeak]

By channeling the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

[@bxi1547]

@@EricZeak lol ok

[@SD2024p]

Can sailor take a while time off on Christmas?

[@EricZeak]

It depends on the schedule of the ship. If they are at home, maybe they will be allowed to have time off at Christmas.

[@SD2024p]

@@EricZeak my boyfriend is in Rota, Spain. So can he take some day off to get married or so?

[@SD2024p]

@@EricZeak i'm proud of you guys. I hope the best for you. I'd like to be a soldier United States Navy too if i had a chance.

[@mikehuynh9272]

Loai nay neu duoc lenh ho tro khi chuyen quan truc chien vao Hoang sa sau khi dot phao kich toan dong minh xong qui ma chay dau

[@aventuratamovil5233]

USS Ashland here 😂 the most active ship in base

[@EricZeak]

Nice! Lots of time underway?

[@aventuratamovil5233]

@@EricZeak Yep! Been all around the surrounding seas

[@sbswrld9063]

I always consider the United States Navy one of the most important parts of the military because without it the us would be easily invaded

[@vincentperratore4395]

We've already been easily invaded and surrepticiously sold out by the very ones we elected!

[@JusticeAlways]

@@vincentperratore4395 Swing and a miss! Try again.

[@josephalbanese2431]

5 min. video ?

[@EricZeak]

Too long for you?

[@fatfreemilk5542]

Going on my first deployment July 2nd !

[@EricZeak]

Great! Hope it goes well!

[@pauldurkin6770]

Good luck

[@sbswrld9063]

Im thinking of either joining the army or navy when I turn 17

[@EricZeak]

That's great! What kind of job would you like to do?

[@sbswrld9063]

@@EricZeak if in the army mostly just work with firing huge guns or work as a mortar man and if I join the navy gunners’ mate so in conclusion I like shooting shit🤣

[@EricZeak]

@@sbswrld9063 Haha. Well it sounds like the military is for you

[@bxi1547]

@@sbswrld9063 You watch too many Hollywood movies

[@christophertheexplorer5370]

Long

[@rainysunday6186]

I hated that whistle. It always gave me a headache.

[@EricZeak]

I didn't like hearing that when I woke up in the morning.

[@shermhart7617]

Bunch of seaman in ya

[@oldsalt7534]

Go Navy. 1964-1968

[@EricZeak]

Were you on a ship?

[@oldsalt7534]

@@EricZeak USS Robert H. McCard DD822 June '65-August '67

[@oldsalt7534]

@@EricZeak I guess I'll never get used to seeing females aboard ships, though.

[@EricZeak]

@@oldsalt7534 I would imagine things were a little different back in the 60s.

[@oldsalt7534]

@@EricZeak From what I'm seeing there is a lot of difference. But time changes pretty much everything I guess.

[@peterorthmann5612]

We are the only country to have soldiers fighting in 7 counties. Who is the terrorist nation?

[@philiphorner31]

Blue camo is totally STUPID

[@walidadjerid4314]

🗺____🌄🌅🌄____🗺

[@richardyork9495]

So your doing your job💁

[@NoDontLikeIt]

Lol. Says an office wonk? Their “job” is more important than anything you’ve ever done.

[@walidadjerid4314]

🌘🌝🌗🌚🌖🌝🌕

[@josephalbanese2431]

reality is way worse than video showed LOL LOL LOL LOL ......... why not show the over worked ?

[@EricZeak]

LOL. The video talks about steaming hard on deployment with very few port calls WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OF THE VIDEO. Did you watch the video? Nobody said it was easy. The Captain said it was challenging

[@davidandrews3615]

God bless all you sailors.