Rachel Mealey: Thousands on board the USS Abraham Lincoln will finally get a rest this week after reports of horrific conditions and a dire mental health crisis on board. Former US Navy personnel say they have sympathy for the sailors, but some believe reports of low morale only help the enemy. Alison Xiao reports.

Alison Xiao: In the Arabian Sea, the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln has been busy helping the American war effort in the Middle East. But reports have emerged of a severe mental health crisis on board the aircraft carrier after nine months at sea.

Elliot Rosenbaum: Finally they’re going to be rotating out with another aircraft carrier, but it seems long overdue.

Alison Xiao: Dr Elliot Rosenbaum is a former US Navy psychologist. He says reports in military-focused news outlets have been extremely concerning, detailing attempts by American sailors to jump overboard and declining morale.

Elliot Rosenbaum: And so the thought that the USS Lincoln is out there for 260 days without a port call, without a break, it’s staggering.

Alison Xiao: The USS Lincoln has been at sea since November last year. It’s on track to be the second longest US deployment since the Cold War.

Elliot Rosenbaum: There’s no real private space. There’s no real recreation possible. And so the day never ends.

Alison Xiao: The ship is due to dock in Thailand this week, according to Reuters, to allow the 5,000 sailors and Marines to get off the ship and get some rest. Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Lincoln.

Pete Hegseth: Completely misrepresented. Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them.

Alison Xiao: Other former Navy personnel believe the reports trickling out to media through family and friends are a form of mutiny aboard the aircraft carrier. Matthew Buckley, callsign Whiz, is a former US fighter pilot who completed two deployments to Iraq, one aboard the Abraham Lincoln.

Matthew Buckley: I obviously have an immense amount of empathy and compassion. But at the end of the day, you know, this isn’t the oasis of the seas. This isn’t a cruise ship. This is a ship of war whose sole purpose is to kill the enemy.

Alison Xiao: He says members of the veteran community are shocked by the reports and that they only help Iran and hurt the United States.

Matthew Buckley: It literally is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. In World War II, the Navy had a saying, loose lips stink ships. These handful of families complaining, they don’t help us. They help Iran. So if you’re the IRGC general, you’re laughing right now. Like, this is fantastic.

Alison Xiao: Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said in a statement, the USS Abraham Lincoln crushed their deployment and will return home soon. It will be replaced in the Middle East by the USS George Washington, which has been moved from the Pacific Ocean.