Learning From Past Mistakes

An investigation conducted by the U.S. Navy revealed the nine suicides aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) during the vessel’s RCOH were not directly connected. However, it was believed that their tragic deaths were driven in part by the conditions aboard the warship while it was undergoing the RCOH, which lasted 2,117 days or nearly six years.

The sailors either lived aboard the aircraft carrier during the overhaul, which was an active construction project, or were housed on barges and had to deal with two-hour daily commutes. Many were subjected to deafening noise, poor ventilation and strained support systems.

U.S. Navy officials only later acknowledged that there existed institutional indifference and an overall failure to anticipate the mental health toll it took on the crew.

“A carrier’s Refueling and Complex Overhaul can consume nearly a quarter of a sailor’s first enlistment. Years unfold amid scaffolding, industrial machinery, rotating construction crews, and compartments in a constant state of reconstruction. The environment reshapes daily life,” explained geopolitical analyst Irina Tsukerman, president of threat assessment firm Scarab Rising. “Noise becomes a permanent backdrop. Familiar routines disappear. The ship remains physically present, yet much of what defines life aboard an operational warship is temporarily suspended while modernization and refueling work proceeds.”

The experience aboard USS George Washington during the RCOH is now understood to be unbearable, especially as the process was initially supposed to last just four years. It further brought long-standing concerns into public view.

“Sailors endured an environment that placed extraordinary pressure on morale and well-being. Living spaces were affected by ongoing construction,” warned Tsukerman via an email. “Basic conveniences often became difficult to access. Daily frustrations accumulated over months and years. The tragedy of multiple suicides prompted a broader examination of how prolonged shipyard assignments affect the force and whether existing support structures adequately addressed those pressures.”

Scrape, Scour and Paint!

Throughout history, from the Age of Sail to the modern navies and merchant fleets, it had been common for sailors to conduct the routine maintenance of their vessels.

Before the era of metal ships, wooden vessels required constant scraping to remove flaking paint, barnacles, and weed buildup. In the Age of Sail, sailors also scoured the wooden decks with coarse sea sand and holystones – large, rectangular blocks of sandstone – to remove grim, spilled tar and rope fibers. A famous phrase from the era was to “scrub the decks until they bled,” as the sandstone tore off calluses on the sailors’ hands.

In the more modern era, the adage has been “if it doesn’t move, paint it,” as a way to protect metal surfaces from the saltwater and sun.

During the lengthy RCOH process, sailors may not have been engaging in such activities, but the question is whether their talents could be put to better use?

“Keeping sailors busy with common manual chores and tasks has long been a part of traditional military service,” suggested former technology industry analyst Charles King, founder of Pund-IT. “However, the changes announced concerning the Harry S. Truman’s refit suggest that the days of ‘Scrape, scour, paint. Repeat’ are coming to an end.”

Instead, the U.S. Navy will turn to contractors, which could cost approximately $32 million, but it is being touted as an “investment in sailor readiness.”

Sailors will now have the option to pursue advanced technical training, to enroll in academic programs, or even to switch to career-enhancing billets while CVN-75 is sidelined.

“That’s all to the good since it should significantly reduce potential injuries and deaths among the Truman’s crew. Additionally, the $32 million in costs required to replace crew members will ensure professionals handle those tasks and also free up 692,000 man-hours that can be used to pursue new ratings, education professional skills,” King wrote in an email. “That should deliver far greater benefits to the Navy and crew members than hundreds of thousands of hours of grunt work.”

A Skilled Workforce

It is worth remembering that every sailor assigned to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier represents years of recruiting, screening, training and professional development. That includes aviation specialists, engineers, technicians, nuclear personnel and information warfare experts, who carry knowledge that grows more valuable as operational systems become increasingly sophisticated.

“Their expertise forms part of the U.S. Navy’s long-term competitive advantage and shapes the effectiveness of future deployments,” said Tsukerman.

Therefore, having them on the sidelines during the RCOH isn’t a good use of their time. Instead, the U.S. Navy will allow those individuals to improve their skills and come back even more qualified for their jobs.

“Professional development opportunities during overhaul periods carry significance far beyond a single assignment. Advanced certifications, technical schools, leadership courses, and specialized training programs deepen expertise while preparing sailors for future responsibilities. Skills acquired during these years remain with the individual throughout an entire career, strengthening both personal performance and fleet-wide capability,” Tsukerman added.

Equally important is the question of personnel rotation. Keeping sailors in the same shipyard environment for extended periods can gradually erode motivation and professional engagement regardless of individual resilience. That is unlikely to improve the morale on the ship, or result in reenlistment.

“Rotational assignments that move sailors through schools, temporary operational billets, fleet support roles, training commands, or other professional opportunities can reduce stagnation while broadening experience,” Tsukerman added. “Exposure to different missions, leadership structures, and operational communities often produces more adaptable and capable sailors.”

Rate-Specific Duties

There will still be many sailors who will remain with the USS Harry S. Truman during its RCOH. Although some could end up performing non-rate-specific duties, many will be there to help modernize the ship, and literally obtain experience of how the systems are installed and integrated.

“Participation in the overhaul process itself still carries value,” acknowledged Tsukerman, noting that familiarity with modernization efforts, exposure to new systems, and understanding how major upgrades are integrated into the ship contribute to institutional knowledge.

Sailors who remain engaged with those aspects of the process develop a deeper understanding of the platform they will eventually operate. This is where shorter, targeted periods of involvement tied to specific expertise are likely to prove more productive than prolonged immersion in shipyard life.

It could also pave a post-service career path for some sailors.

“Large-scale shipyard projects require highly specialized industrial expertise,” Tsukerman explained. “Engineers, planners, tradesmen, and technical contractors spend entire careers mastering the disciplines associated with complex modernization work. Their experience supports the successful execution of projects that involve millions of labor hours and intricate coordination across numerous technical fields.”