CENTCOM commander touts USS Abraham Lincoln mental health record after more than 260 days without port call

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday said the USS Abraham Lincoln has recorded one of the lowest numbers of mental health cases in the Navy, amid mounting allegations of poor conditions aboard the carrier.

The Lincoln, which has been at sea for more than 260 days supporting the war with Iran, has been at the center of a dispute over allegations of supply shortages, plumbing problems and crew members threatening to jump overboard. Officials have repeatedly denied such claims and announced Friday that the carrier is expected to be replaced soon.

In a statement posted by CENTCOM, commander Adm. Brad Cooper touted the carrier's mental health record among the Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers after reportedly visiting the ship over the weekend.

"My time aboard USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday was awe-inspiring. I wish every American could see the crew in action. You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience," Cooper said, according to the post on X. "Here’s an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health."

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FILE - CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday. (CENTCOM/X)

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Cooper added that many of the allegations involving food and hot water were old concerns raised months ago that have since been addressed by the ship’s leadership.

"Recent media reporting has portrayed varying perspectives on operational tempo, crew morale and the realities facing our deployed forces. What I found aboard the Lincoln is that many elements of those stories are old news. I chatted with junior enlisted personnel and junior officers in small groups. Issues related to food, hot water and other concerns raised months ago were addressed by leadership and resolved," he said.

In his CENTCOM statement, Cooper acknowledged that despite the ship’s low number of mental health cases and improved conditions, extended deployments at sea can still be challenging, as some sailors may respond differently than others to the demands of prolonged missions.

"This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone. It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways," he said.

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FILE - Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Navy Adm. Brad Cooper said he witnessed "awe-inspiring" teamwork and resilience aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during his weekend visit. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Cooper credited the ship’s leadership with fostering a culture that supports crew resilience and gives mental health the same necessary attention as "physical health and spiritual health."

"I applaud Lincoln’s leadership — the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess in particular — for stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority," Cooper said.

"To all our Sailors and Marines aboard the ship, keep up the great work and fair winds and following seas on the journey home."

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President Donald Trump said Friday that the Lincoln will soon be "replaced with another very similar ship," which is currently en route to the Middle East. The WSJ reported Thursday that the USS George Washington is heading to the region from the Pacific.

Allegations about conditions aboard the Lincoln emerged following reports of numerous complaints, including food shortages, contaminated water, toilet problems, and a spike in suicidal ideation after months without a port call.

FILE - The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has been deployed at sea for more than 260 days, equivalent to nearly nine months. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

Sean Parnell, who said he experienced a 485-day deployment in Afghanistan, blasted the media reports Friday, calling the accusations twisted.

"The media treatment of the USS Abraham Lincoln is something different. Legitimate challenges of a long combat deployment are being twisted into a false narrative, while the genuine difficulties faced by military families are being used for headlines. That is shameful," he said in a post on X.