08/14/2025
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
Me Communications has opened some great doors for me and my business partner. Last week, I had the incredible honor of participating in the Navy’s Distinguished Visitor (DV) Embark program — truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The journey began at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, where a small group of us were briefed by a senior officer on what to expect, along with an overview of Navy operations.
After the briefing, we suited up and boarded a V-22 Osprey. Flying in one of these was an unforgettable experience. It carried us far out to sea, where we landed directly on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The sheer scale of this ship is astounding — the flight deck spans 4.5 acres, it's home to over 5,000 sailors, and it's essentially a floating city.
We were welcomed by senior officers, including the Executive Officer (XO), the Command Master Chief (CMC, often called the ship’s “sheriff”), and even the Admiral. We dined with the crew, toured extensive areas of the ship, and ended the night watching flight operations under the stars. Seeing F-35s, F/A-18s, EA-18G Growlers, Hawkeyes, Sea Hawks, and more take off and land at night was absolutely breathtaking. Our sleeping quarters were just beneath the flight deck — we could hear aircraft launching and landing above us, but after such a full day, we slept soundly.
We started bright and early with breakfast in a different mess hall before heading to the medical center. There, we met with doctors and nurses who gave us a tour and shared how they provide surgical procedures, physical therapy, and more while at sea. We also spoke with several onboard dentists, who described their daily routines and noted that for many sailors, this was their first-ever visit to a dentist.
We toured the mess deck and explored the massive deep freeze storage — necessary to feed thousands of sailors. Replenishment ships regularly meet the carrier at sea to transfer supplies, which is a feat of coordination in itself.
Visiting the hangar bay was another highlight. We watched jets and helicopters being serviced by the crew and got a firsthand look at flight deck operations. From the flight deck control room to the foc’sle (anchor room), ordnance areas, and the fantail, we were immersed in every aspect of life aboard the ship. One of my favorite stops was the aircraft handler’s control room — the nerve center for managing the controlled chaos of aircraft launches and recoveries. Watching this team in action, coordinating closely with pilots, catapult crews, and others, was simply mind-blowing.
We also visited the flag bridge, the Admiral’s quarters, the navigation bridge, and even the ship’s internal TV studio.
Then came the moment we were all waiting for — walking onto the flight deck, fully suited up in safety gear, to experience aircraft launches and landings from just feet away. The roar of the F-35s and F/A-18s, the heat, the jet blast — it was an adrenaline rush like no other. Watching the precision of these pilots and crews, especially during landings when arresting cables stop jets in seconds, was jaw-dropping.
Afterward, we visited one of the squadrons' lounges to see how the pilots relax between missions. They were down-to-earth, generous with their time, and answered all of our questions.
Soon after, we boarded the Osprey for our return to Coronado. I left with a profound respect for our service members. I’ve always supported the military, but this experience gave me a whole new level of appreciation. Many of the sailors we met were just 18 to 20 years old — fresh out of high school — yet performing complex, high-responsibility roles with discipline and teamwork.
