The challenges faced by American forces in the Middle East are no longer limited to the nature of military tasks, but have extended to the living and psychological conditions of the servicemen themselves.
The Independent reported that the morale of the crew aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln" is declining due to shortages of certain food items and essential supplies, while “the exhausted crew continues to participate in the war waged by President Donald Trump against Iran,” according to the newspaper's report about the sailors' families.
Service Conditions
The U.S. aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln", which carries more than 5,000 military personnel, arrived in the Middle East last January after leaving its home port in San Diego, California, last November.
The newspaper noted, citing the "MS Now" network, that several sailors and Marines informed their families that their meals sometimes consist of only half a cup of rice and two pieces of bread, in addition to shortages of some basic necessities in the carrier's store, such as soap and toothpaste.
Crew members also informed their families about broken toilets, moldy bathrooms lacking hot water, and the cessation of laundry services for consecutive weeks.
The report quoted Bonnie York, a relative of one of the crew members, as saying that "morale is not good" aboard the carrier, adding that "the ship's doctor or mental health therapist emphasized the need for it to dock at a port soon, or else some crew members may begin to lose their minds."
Military Readiness
With the rising complaints about service conditions, questions have arisen regarding how these situations affect the carrier's readiness and the crew's ability to carry out military tasks.
In this context, Brett Snow, a veteran of the U.S. Navy whose son also serves on the carrier, warned that the current conditions could lead to a "disaster," pointing out that working on an aircraft carrier is considered one of the most dangerous work environments even in peacetime, according to The Independent.
The newspaper added, citing "MS Now," that California Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs expressed her "serious concern" about the "fatigue and mental health" of the crew members, warning that past experiences have shown that such conditions could lead to "serious consequences, including an increased risk of suicide."
On the other hand, U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet spokesman Joseph Hontz acknowledged the pressures faced by crew members but confirmed that the carrier "is still capable of carrying out all its assigned missions," adding that "deployments lasting more than 250 days present challenges for the crew and its equipment, yet crew members still maintain their readiness and preparedness to perform any mission assigned to them."