Yellow Ribbon

Captain Craig Watkins, navigator with the 758th Airlift Squadron, speaks with Tech. Sgt. Raelin McCune, family readiness technician with the 911th Family Readiness Office at the Yellow Ribbon event held in Farmington, Pa., Dec. 18 and 19, 2010. Family Readiness provides members with information on a wide variety of resources available ranging from reintegration support for Airman returning from deployment to scholarship information for those seeking higher education.

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Yellow Ribbon

Major Klavens Noel, a chaplain for the 911th Airlift Wing, hugs "Gus" a comfort dog provided by the American Red Cross during the Yellow Ribbon event held December 18 and 19, 2010 at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort located in Farmington, Pa. Comfort dogs are provided by the Red Cross to bring emotional relief in times of stress for our Airmen.

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Reintegration, the next step after a deployment

Published Dec. 23, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Perry
911 AW/PA

PITTSBURGH IAP ARS -- Adjusting to the return home from a deployment can bring about many obstacles and challenges for military members and their families. To help ease this transition, service members turn to the Yellow Ribbon Program.

More than 70 families from the 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh, Pa., and the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown, Ohio, attended the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program held at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington Pa., December 18-19, 2010. Many of the families present took part in phase one of the program last year at Nemacolin, which focused on educating them on handling the rigors of deployment and the resources available.

The purpose of the Department of Defense wide program is to provide National Guard and Reserve families with resources and education before, during and after deployments.

During the event, families participated in multiple breakout sessions which focused on several different topics ranging from managing personal finances, Tricare information and healthy marriages along with many other useful topics.

"There is a tremendous team of resources available for them to be successful before, during and after deployment," said Col. Jeffrey Pennington, Commander, 911th Airlift Wing.

"For anyone who has not attended, they will be wonderfully surprised at how much better equipped and capable they will be to take care of themselves and their families," said Col. Pennington.

Multiple vendors were onsite to provide information to help with the reintegration process. Some of the vendors included Military One Source, Casualty Assistance, Air Force Reserve Command Psychological Health Advocacy Program, Veterans Affairs and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Elaine Dumler, the keynote speaker, addressed the families about methods of family unity and keeping ties strong by taking a lighter look at the serious side of coming home. Ms. Dumler, who has written three books focusing on the topics of reintegration, reunion and staying connected during deployments, has attended Yellow Ribbon events across the country to ensure every military family has the resources and knowledge for successful reintegration along with helping families stay connected during deployments.

In the future, more regional events will be held to include all branches of service at one Yellow Ribbon event and continue providing specialized breakout sessions to address all needs of the member and spouse.

"The purpose of these Yellow Ribbon events is to help members and their families with any and all deployment issues. We encourage any service member who is deploying to participate, they will walk away from a positive experience learning new things and making a few new friends." said Maj. Lance Williams, Air Force Reserve Command Assistant Program Manager.