'A floating prison' - sailors describe life on warships like USS Abraham Lincoln

Key Points:

• Former Navy photographer Burnell observed a decline in morale aboard the USS Carl Vinson, noting a visible sadness among crew members during his three-month deployment, and now expresses concern over reports of poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for over twice as long.
• Reports from military-focused publications describe food shortages, broken plumbing, and exhaustion aboard the Lincoln, though military officials and some veterans dispute the severity of these issues, with a recent CNN visit finding no widespread problems.
• The head of US Central Command acknowledged the mental health challenges of long deployments at sea but stated the Lincoln has among the lowest number of mental health cases among active carriers, emphasizing the unique difficulties of extended service.
• A 2022 investigation into suicides aboard the Lincoln highlighted poor living conditions and leadership failures, with experts noting that isolation, uncertainty, and monotony contribute significantly to mental health risks among deployed sailors and troops.
• Mental health specialists advocate for congressional investigation into the Lincoln’s situation, stressing that crew wellbeing directly impacts the ship’s operational capabilities, while cautioning that some reports of extreme distress may be exaggerated or misinterpreted as locker room talk.