Getting the Ford earlier would be a win for Fleet Forces, which has been trying to get its new optimized fleet response plan on track. The schedule change would ease the pressure as the Navy looks to maintain a carrier presence off North Korea and in the Persian Gulf as often as possible, said Bryan Clark, an analyst for the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "Ultimately if they don't have to do shock trials it means you can more quickly reduce the stress on sailors and ships," he said. "Once the Ford comes online you can have the East Coast carriers essentially cover the Middle East with short gaps and have the West Coast carriers fill the gaps in the Pacific while Reagan is in its spring maintenance availability."
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