Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Commanding Officer Capt. Ronald Ravelo conducted a town hall meeting, Feb. 9, at the Langley Air Force Base community center during the command's monthly Family Readiness Group meeting.

The monthly meetings provide Lincoln families with an opportunity to speak with and ask questions of command leadership about the status of the ship, family services and resources available, and the jobs Sailors do every day.

Ravelo used the opportunity to update family members and Sailors on Lincoln's schedule.

"The current plan is that we will be the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 12," said Ravelo. "We will deploy either at the end of 2018 or early 2019 out of Norfolk. We will be busy from now until our deployment -- busy, but productive."

Ravelo said he appreciated the support and understanding of Lincoln Sailors and their families as the ship wraps up its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) period and prepares to return to the fleet.

Once deployed, the FRG serves as a primary link between Sailors and their families.

"The point of the group is getting families together and boosting the morale, and giving our families the opportunity to not only meet each other, but also to be involved and make friendships," said Anna Mohnike, president of the FRG.

The FRG regularly posts command information to families via Facebook and organizes group activities for Lincoln Sailors and their family members.

"The goal of the FRG is getting spouse interaction," said Mohnike. "While our Sailors are gone, we are still here trying to get people together and get to know each other so no one feels like they are alone. We have informational events that go on every month."

Additional information on the command FRG is available on their Facebook page.

Abraham Lincoln is in the final stages of a four-year RCOH and will be delivered back to the fleet early this year.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit http://www.navy.mil/.