It was a once in a lifetime experience.

The Chargers on Tuesday night held a walkthrough session aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which is stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego.

The highlight of the visit was when service members stepped on the scout team offense and defense against the Bolts top units, a moment that had the entire ship buzzing with excitement.

The experience was a thrill for everyone involved, whether it was Chargers players and coaches or the thousands of sailors on board.

"It doesn't get much better," said Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. "Who gets to get onto an aircraft carrier with their entire team? Nobody!

"It's a big thrill for us," Harbaugh added.

Daniel J. Keeler, the captain of the USS Abraham Lincoln, said: "It's fun for our sailors to get the opportunity to mingle with professional athletes they see on TV. We talk a lot about professionalism on the ship and I use professional athletes as an example for how they train. To see world-class athletes in person, it's pretty cool."

The Chargers only ran a handful of plays on offense, defense and special teams before players and coaches mingled with sailors for more than an hour.

They signed autographs and posed for photos while players such as Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Jr. and Khalil Mack visited the command center.

With the USS Abraham Lincoln set for a training exercise later in the week, Harbaugh drew parallels to where the Chargers are at in their own preparations.

"The discipline, the chase of perfection," Harbaugh said. "To see it up close, we want to get some of what they've got."

He later added: "We're in the same phases right now. They're getting ready to train, we're training for our upcoming season."

Keeler noted that the Chargers visit will certainly give his sailors a boost for weeks to come.

"It's important to understand that everybody in this crew has a fan club," Keeler said. "Moms, dads, NFL players … you tell them that but until they see it … to have an NFL team come aboard and talk to them about how important their job is, it's pretty meaningful."

The visit was especially meaningful for Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, who began his college career at the Naval Academy and reconnected with two classmates aboard the ship.

Kelly Larkin, a public affairs officer for the Navy, and pilot Tyler Pistorio both knew Gilman from their time together at the Naval Academy.

Gilman said it was a full-circle moment seeing friends he first met nearly a decade ago.

"These are wonderful lieutenants here on this aircraft carrier," Gilman said. "It's been a blessing to be out here. Much respect, I have a deep respect and love for these people for what they do in the service world.

"It definitely hits a special place in my heart to be out here just to experience a little bit what my brothers and sisters are doing," Gilman added. "I wish them the best of luck. Just grateful to be around them and grateful to have this experience with the Chargers. It means a lot."

Pistorio and Gilman actually played football together at Navy for one season before Gilman transferred to Notre Dame.

"The last time I saw Alohi was our senior year when I was playing at Navy and he was playing at Notre Dame," Pistorio said. "Got to see him on the field after that moment and since then, it's been almost six years since I saw [him].

"Proud of him and what he's accomplished so far, and excited to continue to see it and share a few moments with him here," Pistorio added.

Larkin said: "It's been really cool just to follow his career. We got to know him freshman year at Navy and then following him at Notre Dame then the Chargers the last six years has been really special. It's a cool moment for us to see him come back here and visit us in San Diego."