Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has acknowledged that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are "tired" after a deployment exceeding 260 days at sea, with more than 150 days in a combat zone. His comments come amid reports that multiple service members attempted to jump overboard.
Cooper visited the aircraft carrier in the north Arabian Sea on Saturday, just before it was to be relieved from its post. He stated in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that while the crew is weary, they remain "fire on all cylinders." Cooper noted that many of the conditions cited in recent reports are outdated, with issues concerning food and hot water having been resolved months prior.
"I chatted with junior enlisted personnel and junior officers in small groups," Cooper wrote. "Issues related to food, hot water and other concerns raised months ago were addressed by leadership and resolved." He added, "The crew is tired, but they continue to fire on all cylinders. History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era."
President Trump had previously dismissed reports of the Lincoln's crew's struggles, stating the deployment had been "not nearly long enough" and confirming the carrier's imminent return to the U.S.
Cooper lauded the crew for their resilience and performance, particularly in confronting Iranian threats. He highlighted the strike group's operations, including intense at-sea combat and hundreds of strikes against IRGC targets. The admiral emphasized that the strength of American sea power lies not in its hardware but in the "human endurance, character and the strength of the American military family."