Philippine Sea. (Oct. 4, 2023): It is a silent enemy confronting every sailor at sea, boredom, tedium, and loneliness. America’s Navy is enormous with 350,000 Sailors and Marines operating 299 deployable combat vessels and about 4,012 aircraft all over the world. Commanders know that a servicemember’s off time is just as important as their daily duties and take great pains to maintain morale. In this photo by  MC3 Evan Mueller, Sailors play Magic the Gathering, a fantasy card game, during an event hosted by Morale, Welfare, and Recreation on the forward mess decks of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan.

Sailors and Marines aboard the Reagan enjoy crew lounges where they can kick back, watch T.V., or play video games and the cooks keep the kitchen open around the clock to prepare treats for the troops. Many vessels have ATMs, internet connectivity, and postal services so those aboard can stay connected with friends and family back home.

The Navy even goes as far as to deploy civilian recreational specialists to lead recreational and fitness programs aboard aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and sometimes Hospital ships. These efforts to promote personal welfare and to provide recreation activities are designed to attack boredom and loneliness our sailors experience as they serve across the globe.