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The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed in the Middle East for nearly nine months, creating significant strain on its crew of over 5,000 sailors. The extended mission, which began in November 2025 from San Diego, has reportedly led to serious mental health concerns among personnel, including documented cases of suicidal ideation and at least one attempted suicide. Family members have also reported food shortages and deteriorating sanitary conditions aboard the flagship aircraft carrier.
A critical factor contributing to crew distress has been the severe lack of port access during the deployment. Since departing San Diego, the ship has made only a single one-day stop at Naval Base Guam in December. Military experts emphasize that vessels of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s size and complexity require regular port calls for maintenance, resupply, and crew morale maintenance. The USS George Washington has been rerouted to relieve the Lincoln within the coming week.
This deployment exceeds historical records for modern naval operations. The USS Gerald R. Ford completed a 326-day mission beginning in 2025, while Vietnam War-era deployments saw the USS Midway operate for 332 days and the USS Coral Sea for 329 days. However, those earlier operations also resulted in significant crew and operational strain. Current tensions with Iran have prompted the Trump administration to maintain an “indefinite” blockade of Iranian ports, extending the Lincoln’s mission repeatedly beyond its original May conclusion date.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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