On August 16th, local time, the U.S. Central Command posted a statement from its commander, Brad Cooper, on social media. Cooper stated that the USS Abraham Lincoln is one of the aircraft carriers with the lowest number of mental health cases among current U.S. military aircraft carriers.
According to the BBC, he said in his statement: "I have always believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health, and it should be given as much attention as physical and mental health." He praised the leadership of the ship for prioritizing mental health and the resilience of the crew.
But he also admitted that serving at sea for a long time "is indeed full of unique challenges and hardships".
Cooper boarded the USS Lincoln on August 15 for an inspection.
U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper. Screenshot of U.S. Central Command.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command, this is Cooper’s second visit to that aircraft carrier this year. In February, he visited the USS Lincoln along with U.S. President-elect Mike Pence and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
During this inspection, Cooper addressed the crew, expressing gratitude for their tremendous dedication and courage.
The U.S. Central Command stated that the USS Lincoln began its deployment in November last year and arrived in the Middle East in January this year, providing support for the 'Epic Fury' operation and the U.S. naval blockade of Iran.
Recently, there were reports that several sailors on the USS Lincoln attempted to jump into the sea. The Navy Times reported that the U.S. Navy did not disclose the exact number of sailors who attempted to jump into the sea or engage in self-harm during this deployment.
On the 14th, U.S. President Donald Trump refuted the concerns expressed about the aircraft carrier ‘Lincoln’.
On the same day, the U.S. Central Command also issued a statement stating that a report claimed seven sailors died in a fight on this aircraft carrier, and there were also reports recently suggesting a surge in suicidal thoughts. “These reports are false.”
The US Central Command stated that no service personnel were killed on the aircraft carrier, and a sailor who fell into the water on August 3 was quickly rescued safely. The numerous false reports about this aircraft carrier are harmful to military personnel and their families.
