It is routine for people to gather pier side when ships return from long deployments, both to welcome sailors back and help families transition. (U.S. Navy)
The Navy is assessing how best to employ specially trained teams placed aboard large ships as they head to sea to help sailors with shore-to-sea transition, a program tested earlier this year.
The “proof of concept” for the Departure and Separation Program kicked off in December on six cruisers and destroyers from Norfolk, Va., and ended in mid-February. Their crews were dealing with the usual stressors of heading to sea for many months but also with family issues and restrictions related to COVID-19, the coronavirus respiratory disease.