Navy Accuses Sailor Who Jumped Off USS Lincoln of 'Malingering' Could Dock His Pay

A 19-year-old sailor who jumped from the USS Abraham Lincoln in what his wife described as a suicide attempt is now facing Navy disciplinary action that could result in part of his pay being forfeited.

The sailor is facing non-judicial punishment for alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to his wife. The documents accuse him of violating Article 83 for 'malingering,' a charge used when a service member is accused of faking illness or injuring themselves to avoid duty.

He is also accused of violating Article 86 for absence without leave, meaning he allegedly failed to be at his required place of duty without permission.

'I think they're insane for doing this to people who need mental help,' his wife told MS NOW. 'Instead of giving them help, this is just another huge stressor.'

Wife Says He Had Asked for Help

The couple are both 19 and have two young children, including a daughter born in February while the sailor was deployed. His wife said he had repeatedly asked for paternity leave but was denied each time.

She said he jumped overboard on 3 August and was medically evacuated before returning to San Diego on 13 August. He then spent five days at Naval Medical Center San Diego, known as Balboa. During that stay, she said staff monitored his vital signs, but he did not see a psychiatrist or therapist.

After his release, he was allegedly told to report back to work immediately. His first therapy appointment came on 26 August, nearly two weeks after he arrived back in San Diego.

Punishment Could Cut His Pay

The sailor is now expected to face a captain's mast, a disciplinary hearing where a commanding officer decides punishment without a full court-martial. Non-judicial punishment is typically used for less serious rule violations, but it can still carry major consequences.

According to the charging documents, the sailor could lose half his normal pay. The case has raised questions about how the Navy handles mental health crises, especially during long deployments.

Lawmaker Questions Navy Response

Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said she remains concerned about sailors and Marines deployed on ships such as the USS Lincoln.

'No one should be punished for getting the mental health care they need,' Jacobs told MS NOW.

She said she would continue pressing the Navy to provide sailors with proper support and conduct oversight to ensure that happens. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense reported that 471 service members died by suicide in 2024, down from 531 in 2023.

'The Boat Is Finally Getting to Me'

The USS Lincoln left San Diego on 21 November 2025 and has had its deployment extended multiple times because of the war with Iran. Family members told MS NOW that service members have described emotional strain and mental health problems during the nine-month deployment.

The sailor's wife said she was not contacted by Navy officials until four days after he jumped. She said she first learned what happened from one of his friends on the ship. Before the incident, she said, her husband had gone to his chain of command and medical staff several times about his mental health but felt dismissed.

In a text to his wife 13 days before he jumped, he wrote: 'i think the boat is finally getting to me.'

He added: 'i dont think i can do another deployment after this and i dont even know if i can finish this deployment.'