Since January this year, the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in the Middle East at a high intensity. On Monday, Lincoln reached a record of 207 consecutive days without docking at any port, breaking the previous record set by the USS Eisenhower.
According to a report by the American newspaper Star Tribune on the 9th, this nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, carrying approximately 5,000 military personnel, has been deployed in the Arabian Sea for several months. It has participated in air strikes on military targets within Iran, controlled the Strait of Hormuz, and imposed maritime blockades on Iranian ports. Under the conditions where contact with family is limited and there is little respite from all-day missions, such high-intensity deployments have left many military personnel physically and mentally exhausted. Some even sent messages to their families asking for help.
A crew member recently wrote in a letter: “Our mental and physical health is at risk, and we need help.” Due to concerns about retaliation, the crew member’s family chose to reveal the information anonymously and expressed extreme concern about the crew member’s condition. “It’s worrying, and it’s heartbreaking… but there’s nothing you can do.”
Other crew members also reported through social media that prolonged deployment has had a significant impact on their physical and mental health. A lieutenant on the ship once published an article in June, stating that he and other crew members were "on the verge of collapse."
According to reports, Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, stated in a statement on Thursday that the welfare of U.S. military personnel stationed at sea and on land in the Middle East is a priority. He also added that in combat environments, soldiers are receiving the best possible resources, logistical support, and medical care.
We are certain that every success in action stems from our soldiers, and ultimately also from them. He said, "There is no army on Earth that can support troops as comprehensively as the US military on a global scale."
The Lincoln-class ships are part of the more than 20 naval vessels and thousands of soldiers and Marines deployed by the U.S. military in the Middle East. This fleet also includes the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush and the amphibious assault group Kidd. According to statistics from the U.S. Central Command, there are currently over 50,000 U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.
According to reports, under normal circumstances, U.S. aircraft carriers typically dock once every 30 to 45 days, giving the crew time to go ashore and rest. However, in recent years, U.S. aircraft carriers have been involved in prolonged continuous voyages for several times.
In April, an aircraft carrier stationed near Iran was also reported to have problems such as insufficient food and poor living conditions. The families of these US military officers and soldiers tried to send supplies to the Middle East, but a sudden disruption in postal services caused important medical packages to be delayed.
