‘Awe-inspiring’ USS Abraham Lincoln crew praised by CENTCOM chief for resilience, mental health

WASHINGTON, DC: As the USS Abraham Lincoln is set to return, Adm. Brad Cooper, the Commander of US Central Command, praised the crew for their brilliant teamwork, resilience, and camaraderie. He also highlighted the importance of mental health among Navy personnel.

Following his visit aboard the aircraft carrier, Cooper described his experience as "awe-inspiring" and said he wished every American could witness the crew in action.

CENTCOM chief praises USS Abraham Lincoln crew

In a statement, Cooper said the USS Abraham Lincoln currently has one of the lowest numbers of mental health-related cases among the US Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers.

However, Cooper noted that prolonged service at sea is uniquely challenging and that individuals often respond differently to stress. "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 added that he has long regarded mental health as an essential aspect of individual well-being that requires equal attention alongside physical and spiritual health.

He commended the leadership aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, particularly the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess, for making mental health and crew resilience a priority. Addressing the sailors and Marines aboard the carrier, Cooper said, "Keep up the great work, and fair winds and following seas on the journey home."

CENTCOM chief reviews Middle East missions

Cooper’s visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln came at the end of a 10-day Middle East tour, during which he visited six countries, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a CENTCOM statement.

The CENTCOM chief held talks with senior civilian and military officials and met more than 50,000 US service members deployed across the region on various missions.

He called the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group “a strong team of high-achieving Americans” and described its deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, based in San Diego, deployed in November and arrived in the Middle East in January.

CENTCOM said the carrier strike group has carried out thousands of combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury, regional security missions and the US naval blockade against Iran.

During a ceremony on August 11, Maj Gen Kevin Lambert handed over command to Rear Adm Liam Hulin. During the tour, Cooper also oversaw a change-of-command ceremony for the Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) in Jordan.