USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Faces Mental Health Crisis After 250 Days at Sea

A mental health crisis is unfolding aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where more than 5,000 sailors and marines have spent 250 consecutive days at sea, a modern record for a U.S. aircraft carrier. The prolonged deployment, extended due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, has led to reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard and prompted urgent concerns from families and lawmakers about deteriorating living conditions and crew morale.

The carrier departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, for what was initially a routine Pacific deployment. The mission was redirected to the Middle East after the United States and Israel entered into war with Iran. The deployment was originally scheduled to conclude in May 2026 but has been extended multiple times. The crew has set foot on land only twice, once in Guam in December 2025 and once in Oman in July 2026.

The strain has manifested in severe psychological distress. According to reports from military publications, multiple sailors have attempted to go overboard. In one incident, Annabelle Loma, the wife of a sailor, said her husband attempted to jump after his deployment kept being extended. She described his fear that a 13-year career...