The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday after an 11-month deployment that lasted 326 days at sea, marking the longest carrier deployment since the Vietnam War.

The Ford and two accompanying destroyers, including the USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, brought home approximately 5,000 sailors who had been away from their families since departing in June. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was present for the homecoming ceremony, telling crews they had "made history" and "made a nation proud."

During its extended deployment, the carrier participated in military operations related to ongoing conflicts with Iran and the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Ford initially deployed to the Mediterranean Sea before being rerouted to the Caribbean Sea in October as part of what was described as the largest naval buildup in that region in generations.

The deployment included participation in January operations to capture Maduro, followed by involvement in the opening phases of military action against Iran. The carrier operated from the Mediterranean Sea before transiting through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea in early March.

The Ford's crew faced additional challenges beyond combat operations, including a non-combat fire that occurred in one of the carrier's laundry spaces while docked at the Greek island of Crete. The incident left hundreds of sailors without sleeping quarters and required lengthy repairs.

The 326-day deployment broke the previous post-Vietnam record and represents only the third-longest carrier deployment in U.S. Navy history, trailing the 1973 USS Midway deployment of 332 days and the 1965 USS Coral Sea deployment of 329 days. The extended time at sea has raised concerns about the impact on service members and equipment strain.