The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is set to return to its homeport of San Diego on Thursday, marking the end of a historic 10-month deployment to the Middle East. The vessel spent 321 days at sea, establishing a new benchmark with 265 consecutive days between port calls. While this duration represents the second-longest deployment since the end of the Cold War, it falls just short of the record set earlier this year by the USS Gerald R. Ford, which completed a 326-day mission across Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the carrier to honor the crew’s resilience. He acknowledged that he had extended the deployment twice, noting that typical carrier strike missions in recent years have lasted approximately seven months. Speaking to sailors on the flight deck, Hegseth defended the extended period, citing battlefield effectiveness and mission necessity.
“I plead guilty… because of the incredible effectiveness that you showcased on the battlefield and the necessity. But also B., the mission required it, and C., because President Trump had full faith that you would deliver on behalf of the American people, and you did,” Hegseth told the crew. He highlighted the strike group’s accomplishments, including 10,000 total sorties, 23,000 combat flight hours, nearly 4,000 combat sorties, and the delivery of 1.5 million pounds of ordnance.
During his remarks, Hegseth revealed additional operational statistics regarding strikes against Iran. These figures include 3,693 combat sorties, 1.37 million pounds of ordnance dropped on Iranian targets, and the launch of 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles by accompanying warships. The carrier group also shot down 77 Iranian one-way attack drones and 21 anti-ship cruise missiles, defended against four fast-attack craft and explosive-laden dhows, and contributed to the sinking of 64 Iranian warships. Aircraft assigned to the Lincoln had returned to bases in California and Washington earlier in the week.
The prolonged deployment was not without challenges. The Navy reported eight suicide attempts among the crew, including one sailor who jumped overboard and was subsequently rescued. Supply disruptions caused by the onset of the war also affected food stocks, and there were reports of mental health struggles within the crew. Hegseth pushed back against media narratives characterizing the ship as a symbol of dysfunction or low morale, asserting the opposite based on his interactions with the crew and leadership.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Hegseth announced that the Lincoln carrier strike group would receive the Presidential Unit Citation. In response to the hardships faced during the deployment, Navy officials stated that lessons learned are being applied to improve conditions for future missions. Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, noted that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which departed San Diego a week ago, is maximizing its load of food, retail products, and hygiene items.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman explained that the crew is converting available spaces into additional storage to enhance self-sufficiency. Quality of life improvements also include new entertainment equipment, more durable fitness gear, and spare cardio machines. Additionally, software updates have been pre-staged on the carrier to maintain critical services during bandwidth-limited operations, and climate control systems are being optimized by specialized teams. Perryman emphasized that the Navy listens to sailors and families to refine readiness for subsequent deployments.
I hope those food supply fixes last. Sailors shouldn’t have to worry about basic necessities mid-deployment.
The stats are staggering, sure, but eight suicide attempts on one ship is a red flag nobody can ignore.
Wait, the President extended the deployment twice? How does that even work without congressional approval?
321 days is insane. Glad they’re back, but we need to do better by the crew’s mental health.