Six-seven month deployments after 3-4 months of short cruises (duration
1-3 weeks each), most helo aviators are welcomed aboard ship - not
exactly as equals but at least better than most "non-ship's company".
during work-ups, they will have lots of ASW practice and at least
occasional SAR flights but when the cruise itself begins, two likely
scenarios play out - his ship sails with a battlegroup and he is tied
to a carrier, or the ship ends up doing more detached service. if he
is stuck in a BG, then its a lot of ocean searches, identifying little
bonka boats and aging tankers, occasionally working with foreign
navies, etc. detached sailing means the possibility of going into the
Gulf, getting 'involved',.. spending more time in exotic locations.
Having done both kinds of cruise in HSL, nothing beats the
opportunities you get once you leave the carrier far behind.

Your son will love it, trust me. Years from now he will look back on
these deployments as some of the best times of his life.

v/r
Gordon