Sailor's responsibilities underway can be demanding. The days are long and the work is challenging. However, these challenges become even more difficult if the Sailor is worried about his family back home. That's where USS George H.W. Bush's (CVN 77) Family Readiness Group comes in.

CVN 77's FRG offers family members the opportunity to participate in programs to help cope with deployments and reassure Sailors that their families are cared for while they're gone.

"FRG is an organized group that is sponsored by the command to keep family and friends informed about what's going on aboard CVN 77," said Kristy Parker, CVN 77's FRG president. "We welcome new Sailors and their families to the command, and we hold meetings and support groups when Sailors go out on deployment."

A well-run FRG is an important resource for families, but is also valuable to Sailors and their commands. As the time for CVN 77 to get underway draws closer, the FRG will hold meetings and events to keep families informed and to support Sailors with special events.

"At our meetings, we plan parties, dinners, homecomings, fundraisers...the list goes on," said Parker. "One upcoming fundraiser we'll be having is a Chick-Fil-A sale aboard the ship on May 25, so we can have funds for homecoming, even though it's a long way from now."

Parker also said that the fundraisers help support other monthly events for GHWB families while the ship is gone.

Many Sailors, including Command Master Chief Huben Phillips, consider the FRG to be a necessity for morale during deployments.

"When we go out to sea, the knowledge that my family is taken care of takes that anxiety, that burden, off me," said Phillips. "All of my focus is on my Sailors on this ship. All of our focus is now devoted to the mission at-hand thanks to the FRG."

In addition to regular meetings, the FRG organizes committees responsible for providing additional assistance to families. One such example is the Helping Hands Committee.

"They're phenomenal because they go and bring meals to families, provide child care, clean their homes...whatever the family needs, the FRG does," said Phillips. "They put in a lot of hours for us, and it's all voluntary."

Parker encourages the spouses of Sailors to get involved in FRG.

"I hope everyone, both the Sailors and their families, go forward with peace of mind knowing that there is a support system with them every step of the way," said Parker. "There's a lot that we're trying to do, and we can't do it without the families getting involved."

Phillips, who is also a member of the FRG board, encourages Sailors to support the FRG.

"I want every Sailor to know how the FRG benefits them because it benefits every Sailor on this ship," said Phillips. "What we do is hard, and part of what helps us do what we do is the support of our families. The FRG strengthens this chain of support and just makes things better."

GHWB is currently undergoing a planned incremental availability period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

For more information on CVN 77's FRG, email cvn77frg@cvn77frg.org.

For more news from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), visit http://www.navy.mil/.