The Price of Prolonged Deployment: A Crisis in the Making The United States Navy's decision to send the USS George Washington to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East has sparked a renewed debate about the toll of prolonged deployment on sailors' mental health and living conditions.
Reports of severe burnout, deteriorating living conditions, and even attempts by some sailors to jump overboard have raised alarm among families and lawmakers.
The Lincoln's nearly six month deployment has been one for the record books – 250 days at sea with only limited port calls.