Retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned that extended military deployments are degrading personnel readiness and eroding the long-term operational capacity of the US Navy, citing the gruelling conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the ongoing Iran war. Speaking on Sunday, 17 August, Mullen described year-long deployments as unsustainable for ships, sailors, and their families.

The Scale of the Deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln has spent 268 days at sea, with its roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines going more than 200 consecutive days without a port call. Reports have described widespread exhaustion, falling morale, and mounting mental health concerns aboard the carrier. The ship has been central to US combat operations in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

What Mullen Said

'You wear yourself out. You actually start to cash in future readiness significantly,' Mullen told ABC News. He described such deployments as 'significant' and 'tough', noting that carriers would ordinarily make port stops to give crews rest and allow for essential maintenance. He added that the morale boost from even a confirmed relief — without a fixed date — was tangible: 'I can tell you, the uplift in morale when you have that, even if they don't have an exact date, you know you've got a relief.'

Why a Port Visit Was Not Possible

Mullen explained that the usual US Navy port facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were under threat during the Iran war, eliminating routine rest stops. Iran had also targeted Diego Garcia, further narrowing the options for a secure resupply and rest location. 'So, there just isn't an easy place to go in terms of a port visit,' he said.

CENTCOM Visit and Crew Performance

Mullen said he had spoken with US Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief Admiral Brad Cooper, who visited the Lincoln. Cooper indicated that several problems had surfaced early in the deployment and had since been addressed, though Mullen cautioned that morale issues still warranted close monitoring. Despite the strain, Mullen praised the crew's commitment: 'These crews will do absolutely everything to make sure the mission goes well. And they clearly have done that on Lincoln.'

Relief Ship and Call for a Larger Fleet

The USS George Washington is expected to relieve the Lincoln. Cooper reportedly told the George Washington's crew they would be returning home, though no precise date was announced. Separately, President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that the deployment had gone on too long — when asked about its duration, Mullen quoted Trump as saying 'No, no, no,' before adding 'Not nearly long enough.' Mullen used the episode to press a broader argument: the US Navy needs to expand its carrier fleet beyond its current 11 vessels if it intends to sustain deployments at this pace. 'We actually need more, I think, in the current environment if we're going to deploy them like this,' he said.