NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. — As the USS Abraham Lincoln recently pulled into port, marking the end of a grueling deployment that kept the ship at sea for more than 300 consecutive days—including 286 days without a single port call—the Navy is turning its focus to the complex, often hidden challenge of homecoming: the emotional and logistical reintegration of sailors and their families.
While the public often sees the jubilant, cinematic embrace on the pier, deployment support specialists and clinical counselors at Naval Station Mayport warn that the reality of returning home is frequently more nuanced.
“There’s a lot of trepidation,” said Kelly Stull, a deployment support specialist and longtime Navy spouse. “How’s this going to go? How long have they been gone? What have they gone through? Is my sailor going to have an adjustment period? Are the kids going to be welcoming?”
Stull emphasizes that life at home does not pause when a sailor deploys; rather, it moves forward in a “parallel universe.” Children grow, reach new milestones, and may even begin dating or driving while a parent is away. Stull warns that returning sailors must be prepared to adapt to the life their family has built in their absence, rather than assuming they can simply step back into their former routine.
“They forget that home keeps going forward, too,” Stull said. She advises families to manage their expectations, noting that a reunion may not look like a “picture-perfect” scene. If a child acts shy or the moment feels awkward, it is a normal part of the process, not a failure of the relationship.
Clinical counselor Susan Schanen highlights that the strain of long-term deployments, particularly those involving months at sea without a break, can affect mental health. While families should monitor for signs of distress—such as changes in sleeping or eating habits—experts are cautioning against jumping to premature conclusions.
“We don’t want any of our families to just immediately diagnose PTSD,” Stull said. “There are so many layers.”
Instead, the Fleet and Family Support Center at Mayport encourages proactive, open communication. Counselors are currently working to meet sailors where they are, offering informal conversations aboard ships to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health support. The goal is to provide a soft landing for those returning from high-stress environments.
Experts recommend that couples begin the reconnection process before the ship even docks. By engaging in small, intentional gestures, planning dates, or utilizing the Navy’s homecoming curriculum, families can lay a foundation for a smoother transition.
For those requiring extra assistance, the Fleet and Family Support Center provides free resources, including financial counseling, stress management, and support groups for all relatives, including siblings and grandparents. As these sailors transition back to shore life, the message from Mayport is clear: reconnection is a process that requires patience, communication, and, when necessary, a little extra help.
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