What it’s like to be on a warship like the USS Abraham Lincoln
Life Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln: What Sailors Endure on Extended Deployments
The Weight of Long Sea Duty
Ninoda.com – Since 11 December, the USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating as part of the US-Iran conflict — a stretch of time that already exceeds twice the length of one veteran's own deployment. Jonny Burnell, a former Navy photographer, spent 111 days aboard the USS Carl Vinson during the 2001 Afghanistan campaign. His position gave him unusual freedom to roam the vessel, unlike most sailors locked into specific work areas. In an era before digital cameras, crew members frequently sought out his lens to capture their images.
Over those three-plus months, Burnell watched the initial enthusiasm of the crew dissolve into what he described as a creeping despondency.
"There was one point where there was a visible kind of deadness in the shipmates' eyes."
He told the BBC that he still regards that daily observation as the most difficult element of his role.
"I still think the hardest part of my job was watching the sadness in people's faces every frickin' day."
Reports of Deteriorating Conditions
Two military-focused outlets — the Military Times and Stars & Stripes — have reported that personnel aboard the Lincoln are dealing with food shortages, malfunctioning plumbing, and severe fatigue. Relatives of sailors have voiced alarm over declining mental health, and some crew members have reportedly attempted to leap overboard.
On Friday, President Trump brushed aside the coverage, declaring the deployment
"not nearly long enough."
By Sunday, Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command overseeing Middle East operations, issued a statement noting that among the 11 active US aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently reports "among the lowest number of cases related to mental health."
"This doesn't mean all is perfect," Cooper acknowledged, adding that "service at sea for long periods isn't for everyone." He continued: "It is uniquely challenging and tough," and stressed that "mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health."
Voices from Families and Veterans
In a BBC interview, a relative of one Lincoln sailor described a family member who had shed 65 lbs (29 kg), attributing the weight loss and exhaustion to relentless noise and vibration aboard the ship.
Retired Navy Lt Commander Steve Rogers, who directs the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), a non-profit supporting servicemembers, has been in contact with families of troops on the Lincoln. He characterized the media coverage as
"99% hype."
Rogers emphasized that family anxiety during wartime is ordinary and that the sailors are adequately prepared for their circumstances.
What It Feels Like Below Decks
Burnell recalled that many Vinson crew members, consumed by duties below, rarely made it to the top deck and could go extended stretches without seeing the sky. He likened the carrier to a floating prison. One colleague attempted every conceivable tactic to be removed from the ship — including selling drugs and organizing what Burnell called an "underground rave club."
In his own narrow bunk, which sailors dubbed "coffin racks," there was insufficient space to roll over. Aircraft-arresting cables ran through the wall directly behind his head.
"It was just non-stop noise. The ship is just always loud," he recalls. "Planes are always landing or taking off and guns are always firing."
What Inspections Have Found
The precise state of conditions on the Lincoln remains uncertain. A CNN crew spent three days aboard last month and found no widespread problems. Several troops mentioned rationing food and losing weight over "many months," yet when CNN boarded on 7 July, the outlet reported that "food was plentiful." Showers ran hot, though some mould was visible.
The US has since dispatched another battleship to relieve the Lincoln, which should arrive in the coming weeks.
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