politics
USS Abraham Lincoln sailors tried to jump overboard amid extended deployment
Aircraft carrier’s crew in ninth month at sea and has spent record 250 days consecutively without making land
TL;DR
- Multiple overboard attempts reported among sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln due to mental stress from a record-breaking deployment.
- The crew is in its ninth month at sea, with 250 consecutive days without making land, a modern record for an aircraft carrier.
- Families expressed deep anxiety to Navy leaders at a town hall, with one spouse reporting her husband hoped he wouldn't wake up.
- Concerns raised by families and members of Congress include poor living conditions such as moldy showers, broken toilets, and lack of hot water, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste.
- The deployment was originally intended for the Pacific but was redirected to the Middle East due to the US-Israel war with Iran, leading to extensions.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed earlier reports of dire conditions as 'fake news,' drawing sharp criticism from a member of Congress.
- A Navy official stated they are aware of the strain of extended deployments but have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or attempts, emphasizing available support networks and functional ship conditions.
- A previous study highlighted inadequate mental and physical healthcare for sailors on deployments, with almost half reporting insufficient help for coping with stress at sea.