The president Donald Trump is sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East and is considering escalating the war against Iran after the midterm elections in November. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group, consisting of between 9,000 and 10,000 military personnel, departed from San Diego this Sunday and is expected to arrive in the Persian Gulf area in November.
The USS George H.W. Bush and the USS George Washington are already stationed in the area, so it is still unclear whether the Roosevelt will relieve one of these or simply join the fleet. However, the Pentagon has planned for the Roosevelt to be prepared for an extended stay.
This includes maximizing its reserves of food, hygiene items, retail goods, and other critical supplies before its deployment, something that the Navy leadership highlighted last month. Measures have also been taken to ensure that sailors have more reliable communication with their families at home and better quality of life services aboard the aircraft carrier.
"This means new entertainment equipment on the mess decks, more durable gym equipment, spare cardiovascular machines ready for our location, and even festive materials purchased in advance," said Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, in a video announcement last month about the reforms made.
