Yellow Ribbon benefits 1 million-plus in first 6 years

by Staff Sgt. Kelly Goonan
439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

2/25/2014 - HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has already assisted more than 1.1 million Guard and Reserve service members and their loved ones since it began in 2008 as an operation of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

Geared toward assisting everyone affected by deployment, these training events aim to educate participants by providing resources, programs and services before, during and after deployments to ease the transitioning period for reservists and their families.

Such was the case here Feb. 21-23 as long tables, covered with information, handouts and goodies, lined the hallways. Everything made was available; from Key Spouse volunteers making pillow cases with each family photo printed on them, to various universities providing information on how to earn a degree overseas, to the Military OneSource table with DVDs and books helping military families cope with separation.

One of the Airman taking in all this information was Tech Sgt. Aureli Muniz with the 70th Aerial Port Squadron from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. He recently returned from overseas and said that if he hadn't gone to all the briefings and meetings during his drill periods he may not have known about the YRRP.

"I've been in the military since 1990 and they didn't have something like this for us back then," he said. "It's a great opportunity to bring family so that they can understand what we go through, and we can understand what they go through while we're gone." Among the resources provided is family counseling to help the family plan ahead together.

Tahanie Cans, Muniz's girlfriend, was impressed by the variety of information and various discussion groups that were available. "I thought I knew a lot about deployments and the military because my father worked with the Veterans Administration for 40 years," she said. "I'm surprised by how much I learned and how many resources are available to me, not just him."

"The people are awesome," said Pat (his last name omitted per his wishes), assigned to Patrick AFB, Fla. "This program -- existing -- just goes to show that they (the military) truly do care about you and your well-being."

About to deploy, Pat remarked how impressed he was with one of the group sessions. "Being able to sit down and just talk to other individuals, not worrying about rank structure or formalities -- just exchanging stories with people who've just come back from where you're about to go is invaluable," he said.

With about 300 people in attendance, one might be taken aback by how well the entire audience meshed. By the end of the second day it certainly seemed that everyone, once complete strangers, emerged as old friends.