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thisfinecrewFrom today's Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/12/uss-abraham-lincoln-overboard-extended-deployment
While sea duty is often 48 months or more, there are liberties, leave -- including places where family can come to share that leave (Hawaii was popular for that during Vietnam, and not just for the Navy). It is also common for two ships to spell each other in a direct war zone, so that the crew has time to decompress. [My knowledge of that last is from the second Iraq war where I knew a married couple, both officers, assigned to ships. She was a nurse on a medical ship, and he was a helicopter pilot. They were assigned to different ships, but they were able to schedule leave together and neither was continuously in the war zone.) During WWII, especially the war in the Pacific, there were long, long Naval deployments, but the Navy provided regular resupplies with fresh fruits and vegetables. There was even, per President Roosevelt's orders, a ship that would provide ice cream and, later, ice cream makers and supplies as a way to keep morale high.
This is an unusual circumstance with no resupplies and no ability to put in for necessary repairs.
Sample Letter:
In today's Guardian there is an article about the morale and mental health problems on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.
The Navy has always had it harder than Army or Air Force deployments. The company is far more limited. The meals are the same week after week. If something on board breaks, it creates a widespread hardship until it touches every single life on the ship. The description of broken toilets, unrepaired laundry machines, and food rationing is unconscionable.
They have touched land for a grand total of two days in a deployment of 250 days. Where are the leaves they are owed? Where are the tenders with supplies? Most importantly, where is the next ship in the rotation? They have been away from land long enough for a pregnancy to come to term. While naval sea tours can be up to 48 months long, leave is accrued and issued during that tour of duty. There are regular meals, clean uniforms, and toilets that flush.
It should not be left to a foreign newspaper to document a mental health crisis among our sailors. There should not be a high rate of documented suicide attempts. At the very least, there should be some way to address their mental health under this unusual level of stress.
Thank you for your time.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/12/uss-abraham-lincoln-overboard-extended-deployment
While sea duty is often 48 months or more, there are liberties, leave -- including places where family can come to share that leave (Hawaii was popular for that during Vietnam, and not just for the Navy). It is also common for two ships to spell each other in a direct war zone, so that the crew has time to decompress. [My knowledge of that last is from the second Iraq war where I knew a married couple, both officers, assigned to ships. She was a nurse on a medical ship, and he was a helicopter pilot. They were assigned to different ships, but they were able to schedule leave together and neither was continuously in the war zone.) During WWII, especially the war in the Pacific, there were long, long Naval deployments, but the Navy provided regular resupplies with fresh fruits and vegetables. There was even, per President Roosevelt's orders, a ship that would provide ice cream and, later, ice cream makers and supplies as a way to keep morale high.
This is an unusual circumstance with no resupplies and no ability to put in for necessary repairs.
Sample Letter:
In today's Guardian there is an article about the morale and mental health problems on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.
The Navy has always had it harder than Army or Air Force deployments. The company is far more limited. The meals are the same week after week. If something on board breaks, it creates a widespread hardship until it touches every single life on the ship. The description of broken toilets, unrepaired laundry machines, and food rationing is unconscionable.
They have touched land for a grand total of two days in a deployment of 250 days. Where are the leaves they are owed? Where are the tenders with supplies? Most importantly, where is the next ship in the rotation? They have been away from land long enough for a pregnancy to come to term. While naval sea tours can be up to 48 months long, leave is accrued and issued during that tour of duty. There are regular meals, clean uniforms, and toilets that flush.
It should not be left to a foreign newspaper to document a mental health crisis among our sailors. There should not be a high rate of documented suicide attempts. At the very least, there should be some way to address their mental health under this unusual level of stress.
Thank you for your time.
no subject
Date: 2026-08-13 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-08-13 04:56 pm (UTC)