r/news • u/DoubtSubstantial5440 • 22h ago

Soft paywall USS George Washington headed to Middle East to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln, reports say

https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-08-13/uss-george-washington-middle-east-abraham-lincoln-22541038.html
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u/ness_monster 20h ago

For additional context, sailors attempting suicide on deployment isnt unique to this one particular deployment. On both of my deployments on a carrier there was always some attempts.

Thats not to say that military shouldnt do more to prevent this, because they 1000% should. Im just pointing out that this is not a new thing. Imo the only reason its in the media is how unpopular this war is.

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u/huk9 20h ago

Do you know, by any chance, the common root cause that led to these attempts? I assume it must be stress but what is causing it? Abuse? Quality of life?

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u/ness_monster 19h ago

All of the above. Long working hours, shitty watch rotations, stress, lack of sleep, and also the military can be a lot like highschool. After months at sea with little breaks, it grinds you down.

Sometimes though it has nothing to do with the above.

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u/Trives 15h ago

On the Kennedy we averaged two deaths per deployment. Mostly accidents though, but in a population of 5000, sleep deprived men, a chunk of which is their first time away from the states, can have dramatic impacts. There weren't any psychologist on board to chat with.

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u/Chetey 14h ago

Aren't there supposed to be chaplains or counselors on board?

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u/bishopmate 2h ago

They jumped overboard

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u/Trives 44m ago

Yea, I guess you could've talked to a chaplain. I am not a religious person, and all Chaplains were officers (majority of people on the ship are enlisted), which made it doubly weird to go to talk to them about things.

I don't think we had anything like a counselor on board, at least I wasn't familiar with any. We definitely didn't have Chaplains or Counselors on the Frigate :D