YRRP: Supporting those who gave for us

  • Published
  • By A1C Crystal MK Jordan
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs Office
Barksdale AFB, La. --  The 917th Wing from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., hosted a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event at the Shepherd's Pasture Conference Center in Jefferson, Texas, from November 20 - 22, 2009. The program is designed to provide support and outreach for military members and families preparing to, or who have deployed or been separated more than 90 days.

The YRRP is a free, national Department of Defense program that brings contacts and resources together in one place for military members and their families. Military members from the 917th Wing staffed the event.

Over the weekend, 10 families attended informational briefings and cooperative exercises designed to aid in the servicemembers reintegration back from a deployed location.

Military and Family Life counselors offered their services at the conference center along with personal finance counselors and youth services representatives.

These services offered an opportunity that most family members don't get a chance to take advantage of. The family was now able to receive the exact same briefings that the military member must complete before and after deployment periods.

Lectures were scattered throughout the weekend between periods allotted for the families to enjoy time together. The reintegration consisted of time spent together as a family. Watching movies, playing board games and taking in sights of the historic town of Jefferson also kept participants busy.

Free to roam the wooded area surrounding their lodges, the spouses and children were also able to take advantage of the spacious 14-acre lot, riddled with serene and scenic hiking trails.

On the grounds, extra family events were also available. Bonfires and hayrides kept laughter and fellowship in the air as spouses and children welcomed their loved ones back into the family.