Eight U.S. Navy personnel aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln have attempted suicide since the ship’s deployment was lengthened to 286 days, a senior Navy official disclosed in a letter obtained by NBC News. The carrier, which left San Diego in November, was originally slated to return in May but remained at sea to support operations in the Middle East after the United States entered a war with Iran in February.
Scope of the problem
The attempts involve members of the carrier’s air wing, the strike‑group staff, the destroyer squadron, escorting destroyers and all embarked aviation squadrons. The strike group carries roughly 7,500 sailors, making the eight attempts a small but alarming figure for a single deployment.
Official response
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao sent the letter to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D‑N.Y.), who had raised the issue with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In the correspondence, Cao noted that two sailors had previously jumped overboard while the carrier operated in the Middle East, and that no deaths have been linked to suicide during the current deployment.
The Navy emphasized that service‑member well‑being remains a top priority. A spokesperson said, “We take every service member’s well‑being seriously and have religious, medical and mental‑health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.” The carrier currently has five chaplains, a clinical psychologist, a clinical social worker, behavioral‑health technicians and an embedded prevention‑coordination counselor to support the crew.
Critics and concerns
Sen. Gillibrand described the conditions on the ship as “serious and deteriorating,” adding that troops and their families make “immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect.” President Donald Trump has previously said the deployment was “not nearly long enough.”
Relatives of sailors have voiced worries about food shortages, low morale and the impact of an extended sea‑time on mental health. Some military officials, however, have downplayed the concerns. In a Wall Street Journal op‑ed, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper called the reports “old news” that were resolved months ago.
Context of the deployment
The carrier’s extended stay at sea without a port call is unusual. A typical deployment lasts six to seven months and includes regular stops to replenish supplies. The Lincoln stopped in Thailand earlier this month and is now heading back to San Diego after a brief layover in Guam.
While the Navy stresses the availability of mental‑health resources, the recent attempts underscore the challenges of maintaining morale on prolonged deployments. The situation highlights the need for continued attention to the well‑being of service members as the United States sustains its military operations abroad.
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org. Additional support can be found at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
