How the USS Abraham Lincoln Combats Sexual Assault
Bystander intervention training
03 February 2015
Capt. Ron Ravelo, commanding officer of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), held a two-day all hands call for Lincoln Sailors at Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 21-22.
Ravelo addressed the collective 2,300 Sailors about the positive progress that Lincoln is making, as well as the evolution of every Sailor's respective roles as they move into the final stages of refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).
This March, Abraham Lincoln will mark its second year of its overhaul at Newport News Shipyard with a planned completion date in October 2016. During the all-hands call, Ravelo highlighted the pride he has for his crew who are dedicated to returning Lincoln to sea.
"Every day I look forward to arriving to work and in doing so, I am encouraged by the energy, commitment and resiliency of my Sailors," said Ravelo.
Ravelo also stressed bystander intervention as a point of importance throughout the all-hands call, and had members of the Coalition for Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) speak to the crew.
"You are all shipmates, whether on watch or off duty," said Chief Fire Controlman Bethany Ross, Lincoln's CSADD senior enlisted advisor. "The same way you wouldn't let a shipmate walk into a dangerous area, is the way you should act when you see a shipmate pick up their keys after a night of drinking."
Additionally, Ravelo reiterated the importance of damage control, firefighting, warfare designations and advancement exam preparation.
Ravelo also gave his Sailors words of encouragement and recognized their hard work.
"Ordinary Sailors doing extraordinary things, that's you guys," Ravelo said. "That's what I see out of this group, day in and day out."
Abraham Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz class to undergo a RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class carriers.