A Labrador retriever named Captain Fathom is the only dog aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a 321-day deployment. The two-to-three-year-old "fox" yellow Labrador from the Mutts With A Mission program helps sailors and Marines lower their anxiety levels and seek professional psychological help.
Fathom is an energetic and friendly dog with a thick reddish-red coat who, from his first days on the ship, became the center of attention for the crew. He underwent special training, and his handlers completed 120 hours under the organization's program. Aboard the ship he has his own "sea bag" with a mat, eye, ear and paw protection, a life jacket and toys.
The dog helps break down the barriers that keep service members from seeking out psychologists, and simply lifts morale. During a long voyage, when the crew does not see land for months, Fathom's presence gives sailors a chance to relax, pet a friend and feel supported.
For the crew of an aircraft carrier, where every day carries a heavy load, such a four-legged partner becomes an important element of the mental health support system. Fathom does not replace specialists, but he makes the first step toward talking about problems easier and more natural.
Captain Fathom's story shows how one well-trained dog can change the atmosphere on a huge warship and remind us that caring for the mental well-being of a crew can come in the most unexpected form.
