All you have to do is "Go Asiatic", primary reason some sailors preferred Asiatic duty was because it was traditionally looser and wilder than the Atlantic or Pacific fleets.

Seriously, a patrol is supposed to last about 3 months, with a Pearl Harbor career half that time is eaten up cruising to and from over those vast stretches of empty Pacific. Asiatic careers you're closer to the action at the beginning, then mid 42 you got a long slog from Australia - unless you download my mod;
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=211844
Which after the fall of Java changes your home port to Phantom 42 in the Celebes instead of Freemantle. Spend a week or two accomplishing your assigned mission, after that contribute to the war effort for another month or two by blowing stuff up before returning to port.