US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm Brad Cooper has acknowledged the challenges faced by sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, while pushing back against reports portraying the crew’s mental health situation as severe, saying the carrier has among the lowest numbers of mental health-related cases in the US Navy.
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Cooper praised the aircraft carrier’s crew for its camaraderie, teamwork and resilience during a visit aboard the ship, which is deployed in West Asia and is now preparing to return home. “My time aboard USS Abraham Lincoln yesterday was awe-inspiring. I wish every American could see the crew in action. You would beam with absolute pride when witnessing their camaraderie, teamwork and resilience,” Cooper said in a statement.
The remarks come amid reports of low morale and mental health concerns among sailors aboard the carrier. Cooper said the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of mental health-related cases among the US Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers.
However, he acknowledged that the situation was not without challenges. “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. It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways,” he said.
Cooper said mental health should be treated as an essential part of overall well-being, alongside physical and spiritual health. He praised the leadership aboard the Lincoln, particularly the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess, for making mental health and crew resilience a priority.
“I’ve long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health. I applaud Lincoln’s leadership — the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess in particular — for stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority,” Cooper said.
