Tell us what you think: Deploying to Spain - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Tell us what you think: Deploying to Spain

The Navy announced Feb. 16 that it will forward-deploy four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to Rota, Spain — two in fiscal year 2014 and two in fiscal 2015.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the Ross and the Donald Cook will be the first to arrive, followed the next year by Porter and Carney. The first three are currently homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., while Carney’s home is Mayport, Fla. The ships will support U.S.-NATO ballistic-missile defense in Europe.

But it’s not just the ships. Fleet Forces Command says crews and families will live in Rota as well — think the Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan model — rather than the forward-deployed plans being discussed elsewhere, such as with littoral combat ships in Singapore.

We want to know what sailors think about the plan and, specifically, about life in Rota. Have you been stationed in Rota? If so, what’s it like in terms of quality of life? Whether you have been based there or just heard about it from shipmates, how do you feel about the plan? Is the idea of being stationed in Rota and supporting the BMD mission attractive enough for you to seek a billet on one of these ships?

Send your take to staff writer Bill McMichael. And be specific — your comments may be used in an upcoming Navy Times story.