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Top commander acknowledges mental health issues on USS Lincoln
Adm. Brad Cooper said the Lincoln has among the lowest mental health cases in the Navy but acknowledged challenges after reports of sailors going overboard. Trump and Hegseth downplayed concerns; Gillibrand demanded hearings.
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U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Sunday acknowledged mental health challenges aboard the USS Lincoln after reports that a sailor jumped overboard during the aircraft carrier's extended Middle East deployment.
"Here's an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health," Cooper said in a statement posted to X after his visit to the ship on Saturday. "This doesn't mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn't for everyone."
Cooper's visit and statement follow reports of widespread morale and mental health issues aboard the Lincoln, which has been deployed for more than eight months. The Navy Times reported last week that several sailors had attempted to go overboard, and Stars and Stripes also reported on widespread mental health problems.
Cooper, the top U.S. commander in the war with Iran, called his visit to the ship "awe-inspiring" and praised the crew for "stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority."