News

Tying things off at Yellow Ribbon

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing public affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  About 125 military and family members attended the first 446th Airlift Wing Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Workshop, at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Wash., June 27. 

The program's speakers explain benefits to Reservists and their families are entitled to, related to deployments, said Carl Supplee, director of the 446th Mission Support Squadron Airmen and Family Readiness Center. He is also a traditional Reservist as a lieutenant colonel in the 446th AW Chaplains' Office. 

"I want to make sure our returning members and their families will have the knowledge and access to information that will help them to make it all the way home," said Master Sgt. Steven Thomas, an Airman and Family Readiness technician and Yellow Ribbon Workshop coordinator. "This information will help them adjust to whatever their 'new normal' is, following a family separation due to a deployment." 

There are benefits like the ones Veterans Affairs has to offer, said Mr. Supplee. Most people wouldn't have signed up for them because they had no idea they had the opportunity to--for instance--sign up for five years of free health care. It's programs like these that get that out there and make people more aware of the many benefits they might be eligible for. 

Sergeant Thomas and Melanie Castle, a military spouse and volunteer with the 446th MSS Airman and Family Readiness Center, say participants welcomed news of the many programs discussed at the event. 

"People gave a lot of positive feedback on the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve information," said Mrs. Castle. "People were also excited about the benefits and eligibilities of the Veterans Affairs 9/11 G.I. Bill." 

The program also used breakout discussions for families with special interests, said Sergeant Thomas. Sessions included are, "Paying for College," "Saving and Investing," "Military Pay Issues," and "Developing your Spending Plan." 

So far, Yellow Ribbon has gotten positive feedback. 

"This workshop gave me a lot of information I wasn't aware of, such as Military OneSource," said Tech. Sgt. Katie Badowski, 446th Services Flight. "These programs enable me to make better informed decisions and guide me to those who have the answers." 

"I haven't seen anything negative from these events," said Senior Master Sgt. Danica Dejanovic, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. "They have all been very positive. Any feedback we get from these programs, positive or negative, we use it to improve future workshops." 

Sergeant Thomas mentions another benefit of the program for military personnel returning from deployment. 

Anyone can attend the workshop, said Sergeant Thomas. However, in order for a military member and families to be compensated for it, an Airman must have been deployed, in support of a campaign, for a minimum of 90 straight days, outside of the servicemember's local area. Family members must live at least 60 minutes away from where the Yellow Ribbon event is held, in order to get their travel and lodging paid for and their meals reimbursed. Military members returning from their 90-day deployment are put on orders, regardless of travel distance, and can bring up to three family members. Child care is also provided. 

A lot of effort went into the workshop, according to Sergeant Thomas. 

"The planning and coordination started in March," said Sergeant Thomas. "It involved working with Contracting, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, and then coordinating with various presenters and civilian daycare and meeting with several hotel managers. It was truly a team effort that involved the staff the Airman and Family Readiness Center." 

For continuity, coordination of the program had to go through 4th Air Force. 

"I had to make sure there was continuity between the units when they conduct Yellow Ribbon workshops," said Sergeant Dejanovic. "I also made sure that all of the benefits were covered across the board and all the resources got out to the families. It'll only get better with word of mouth." 

Sergeant Thomas is also optimistic about the future of Yellow Ribbon. 

"I think it will get bigger," said Sergeant Thomas. "The vision of the program is that it will become a purple program, since many of the same concerns and programs are shared across the branches. To aid in the vision, the Department of Defense is working on a Web site that any servicemember can log on to and see where the closest Yellow Ribbon event is being held." 

According to Sergeant Thomas, servicemembers can benefit from the program, regardless of their background and deployment history. 

"Everyone's transition will be different," said Sergeant Thomas. "But no matter what our members need to know or what benefits are out there, they can be accessed." 

For more information on Yellow Ribbon, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 253-982-5330