A Navy sailor who jumped from the USS Abraham Lincoln this month is facing disciplinary action and could lose half his pay, according to charging documents and testimony from his wife.
The latest news follows a series of reports in mid-August claiming that sailors aboard the 5,000-man USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been in combat with Iran for more than five months and has spent more than 250 days in a row without making land, have made multiple attempts to jump overboard and are experiencing other issues with their mental health.
Naval families have also said there are safety concerns, food shortages, water contamination, and disruption in the mail system on the ship.
The unnamed sailor’s wife reportedly told MS Now that her husband jumped from the ship in a suicide attempt on Aug. 3, and is now accused of violating the articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military.com contacted the Navy for comment.
MS Now reportedly received charging documents that purportedly show the Navy has accused the sailor in question of violating Article 83 for “malingering”—a term related to instances when a sailor fakes illness to avoid work. The documents also said he had violated Article 86 for “absence without leave.”
The charging documents said the sailor could lose half of his normal pay.
“I think they’re insane for doing this to people who need mental help,” the wife told MS NOW. “Instead of giving them help, this is just another huge stressor.”
Two 19-Year-Olds With Children
The sailor’s wife told MS Now that medics treated her husband on Aug.13 for five days but that he did not see a psychiatrist or a therapist, and authorities told him to return to work.
She said that the Navy did not contact her about her husband jumping from the ship until four days after the event. She said she learned about the incident from one of her husband’s friends who sent her a message.
The couple, who are both aged 19 and have two children, have attracted the attention of lawmakers concerned about the sailor’s treatment.
“No one should be punished for getting the mental health care they need,” Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told MS Now. “I will continue to call on the Navy to provide our sailors with the necessary support they deserve and will continue doing oversight to ensure that is the case.”
Future of the USS Abraham Lincoln
Multiple reports, citing anonymous officials on Tuesday, said that the vessel will make a brief stop in Thailand to allow rest and recovery.
The reports said this stop would take place in September but did not specify the port or the arrival date, citing security concerns.
The USS George Washington is heading to the Middle East to replace it, according to sources cited by the Associated Press and CNN who indicated that officials had previously planned the swap. Officials have not confirmed the date of this swap.
“The Navy is fully committed to the health and wellbeing of every sailor,” A Navy official told MS Now. “We strive to foster environments that support mental health by removing barriers to seeking help, increasing awareness of resources, and taking appropriate action when someone is in need. Mental health resources are available to our sailors 24/7, and asking for help is a sign of strength.”
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