Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program: Supporting those who gave for us

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Crystal M. Jordan
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  Deployment is a word usually accompanied by feelings of uneasiness and worry, especially for the family members of Air Force personnel scheduled to leave. However, it's not an experience belonging solely to military members. A tour of duty affects everyone around the airman.

Family and friends also deal with stresses and formalities along with their anxiety over their servicemember far away.

There is so much to do and even more to think about when preparing for a loved one's departure to a deployed location. At times, all of the worries, deadlines and requirements can form a twisted path of paperwork and emotion, which is often traveled alone. It doesn't have to be this way.

The National Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is free Department of Defense program, established to provide support and outreach for military members and families who are preparing to deploy or have been deployed or separated for more than 90 days. It also open to the families of servicemembers currently deployed.

The 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., is slated to host an YRRP event in order to aid in the preparing and reintegrating of servicemembers and their families from Nov. 20 through Nov. 22 at the Shepherds Pasture Conference Center in Jefferson, Texas.

Before, during and following a deployment or temporary duty, there are checklists and forms that are required to be completed by a military member and their family. More times than not, the servicemember will go it alone, but this yellow ribbon program gives the family an opportunity to receive the same information the military member does.

The YRRP brings together numerous contacts and resources for families in one place. Among others, the chaplain, military family and life counselors, and employee support for guard and reserve are scheduled to attend the event.

"It brings the family up to speed and makes these checklists real," explained Air Force Master Sgt. Harold Starkey, about the program.

Sergeant Starkey, who is the deployment cycle support manager for the 917th Wing, is organizing the event and facilitating along with a group of volunteers in the 917th. Also helping with the weekend-long activity are civilian volunteers from the surrounding community.

"We can actually do some good," Sergeant Starkey said. "That's why I am so excited about this program. We can make a difference."

"A lot of the issues that arise from deployments or separations do so because the family or servicemember feels alone," Sergeant Starkey. "We want those people to know that there is help. You aren't by yourself."