The Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln Deserve Better
The treatment of those on board betrays the promise made by the 16th president himself.
TL;DR
- The USS Abraham Lincoln has exceeded 240 consecutive days at sea, one of the longest deployments on record, with sailors facing unreliable access to necessities.
- Leadership's response to sailors' complaints has been dismissive, with Pentagon spokespeople and former President Trump offering contemptuous remarks.
- Recent policy changes in the Department of Defense make it easier for commanders to dismiss harassment complaints and retaliate against whistleblowers.
- The Navy lacks a formal cooldown period for most sailors after deployment, unlike SEAL teams, leaving them to manage the transition independently.
- The Veterans Affairs system is weakened, with reduced positions and mental health providers, failing to adequately support returning service members.