Yellow Ribbon program focuses on reservists, families

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) --  Air Force reservists in the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker AFB, who return from long deployments, are finding the welcome mat waiting for them.

A congressional directive in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act mandated that Reserve components provide reservists and their families with additional deployment support and reintegration programs.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program seeks to minimize the stresses of military service, specifically when a reservist deploys and the family faces separation. Officials at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command have recently directed that all AFRC wings enact this program.

The concept of reintegration was perhaps most noticeable as an organized, structured process during the last days of the Vietnam War. Thirty-five years ago, military receptions and programs helped prisoner-of-war returnees resume normal, professional, family and community activities with minimal physical and emotional complications.

While returning POWs received support, most combat veterans did not. Officials now know more about stresses associated with military life and combat on servicemembers and their families.

The focus of the Yellow Ribbon Program is to provide support and outreach services to reserve component servicemembers, their families and communities throughout the deployment cycle. This program places particular emphasis on preparing servicemembers and their families for the stresses associated with separation and deployment, educating members and families about resources available to assist them, and connecting members to service providers before and during deployments. The focus shifts to reconnecting servicemembers with families and communities for successful reintegration after a deployment.

In addition to predeployment activities, the program directs conducting reintegration activities after demobilization or the end of a deployment for all members who are mobilized or deployed for 90 days or more. Members will receive appropriate pay and allowances for attending these deployment support and reintegration activities.

Officials from the 507th ARW kicked off the Yellow Ribbon Program during July's redeployment of the 507th Security Forces Squadron personnel from Kirkuk, Iraq. Since their return, reservists from other squadrons in the wing have been met upon their return.

"We've met every redeployer, so far," said Lt. Col. Bonnie Tremblett, 507th ARW performance planner. She said returning members are immediately entered into the reintegration program.

More than 80 reservists attended the first 30-day reintegration session. The three-hour session featured representatives from the chaplains' office, legal office, medical group and Veterans Administration; officials from the wing Airman and Family Readiness program; and members from the Tinker AFB mental health office. Discussions ranged from employer-support issues to recognizing behavior that may occur after exposure to combat or a combat-supported deployment.

"I thought the meeting was very informative," said Tech. Sgt. Derek Wilson, a communications specialist from the 507th Communications Flight here. "There were a lot of issues I wasn't aware of as well as the discussion on insurance options available."

Lt. Col. Pete Peterson, 35th Combat Communications Squadron commander said, "The Veterans Administration and medical briefings were very important to hear. There were some things covered I never realized were available to reservists. I think it all hit home." 

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