Navigating Home from the US Navy: How Often Do Servicemen Go Home?

It depends.

For the last 54 years, since Admiral Elmo Zumwalt transformed the US Navy during the early 1970s, the landscape for naval servicemen has shifted dramatically. Before this modernization, many restrictive regulations existed regarding travel away from duty stations, civilian clothing stowed aboard ships, grooming standards, and numerous other archaic rules. These were swept away, replaced by common sense guidelines and a more flexible approach to sailor leave and liberty.

The Z-Grams and Modernization

Adm. Zumwalt's transformation began with a series of 'Z-Grams,' regulatory changes that were virtually daily. These communications marked the dawn of a new era for the US Navy, one that provided servants with rights and freedoms previously unknown to their predecessors.

Common Sense Guidelines for Leave

During my 20-year career, and given the changes brought about by Adm. Zumwalt, restrictions on travel were minimal. When a sailor's 'home' was in the same port as their ship, they had significant flexibility. For example, my first ship, the USS JFK, was stationed in Norfolk, VA. As a rule, I could drive home to Western NY on holiday weekends or request an extra day of liberty with a normal weekend, provided I returned by 0700 on Monday morning. Much of my career saw me in the same homeport, so I could return every day the ship was in port.

Long-Distance Absences

For those whose 'homes' were far across the continent, air travel was always an option, although cost could be a deterrent. Not that it stopped some from taking advantage of the flexibility. I recall a young student at Fleet Training Center San Diego in the mid-1980s who got into trouble for being late to class on a Monday morning. He was in Honolulu; it turned out his classmate had booked flights for him, which were cancelled. He caught the next available flight and was only late by a few hours. Leadership wanted to discipline him, but I explained that the rules did not restrict how far a sailor could travel. This was the 'Jet Age,' and long-distance travel was not as rare as they thought.

Work Schedule and Readiness

Ultimately, a sailor's ability to go home depended on their work schedule. After all, the Navy's primary responsibility was to keep the ship in a high state of readiness. This meant that when the ship was deployed, no one was allowed to go home unless it was due to a serious personal emergency, such as a family illness or death. The Red Cross would send an emergency notification, and everything would be done to get the sailor back home as soon as possible.

Conclusion and Personal Reflection

In my experience, the Navy was a job, albeit one with significant responsibilities. If sailors' requests for time off were reasonable and did not compromise readiness, common sense prevailed. I never had a leave request disapproved during my 20-year career, and only once did the ship try to recall me due to a casualty in my engineering space. I was ultimately successful in defending my leave because my wife and I were on a 2-week road trip with no contact with my leave address.

Years after my military service, I still believe that the situation related to crew members' private lives hasn't changed significantly. The flexibility granted during Adm. Zumwalt's era has remained a cornerstone of naval life.