Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program

 

KNOWING YOUR BENEFITS, RESOURCES & CONTACTS

No one should embark on a deployment or see a loved one deploy without first knowing the benefits, resources, and contacts to navigate the deployment cycle.

This is the philosophy of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a legislatively mandated program that helps Service Members and their Families in the National Guard connect with their local support community before, during, and after deployments. 

About Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Events

Minimize deployment stress and uncertainty by attending a local Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event. All National Guard and Reserve Components hold events and activities to give you and your loved ones valuable information on benefits, services, and resources that are available before, during and after the deployment.

Did you know...

  • National Guard mandates its members to attend, and Family members are strongly encouraged to attend as well. Even children can participate in events where childcare and Child & Youth programs are provided.
  • If your chain of command approves, you may attend another Unit or Service Component's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event if your unit's event is too far away. Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events provide the same information regardless of the Service Component or unit affiliation. To attend another unit's event, ask your chain of command for permission and register for the event near you.
  • Your Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Event Coordinator has the most up-to-date and accurate information about the program and its benefits. 
         

Pre-deployment Events
Attendees receive useful information to assist with the challenges of extended separation and deployment.

Who may attend: Service Members and Families
What to expect: Training, resources and services to help Service members and their Families plan ahead for deployment and/or mobilization. Subject matter areas may include financial preparation, emotional health, household support, deployment safety, and other strategies to help you and your Family transition into the deployment phase.

During Deployment Events
During the deployment of the Service member, these events provide information, resources, and services specifically to Families, and/or employers of deployed/mobilized Service Members.

Who may attend: Family members as determined by your Service.
What to expect: During Deployment Events focus on addressing challenges and stressors associated with separation that National Guard Families may experience, while providing an opportunity for Families to connect with one another.

30-Day Post-Deployment Events
The intent of this event is to help Service members and their Families reconnect after deployment, provide information about resources that can help reduce the stressors associated with a long separation, and educate the Service member and his or her Family about the benefits they have earned as a result of their deployment and how to access those benefits. This is also an opportunity to welcome Service Members home!

Who may attend: Service Members and Families
What to expect: Attendees can look forward to receiving marriage assessment and counseling information, Veterans Affairs information and enrollment assistance, education and training benefits, domestic violence awareness and prevention, suicide awareness and prevention, as well as vital health information on TBI and PTSD. Service Providers will be on hand to help you, representing such organizations as the Veterans Affairs Vet Center , TRICARE, Military OneSource , NGB Employer Support , Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program , and others.

60-Day Post-Deployment Events
This event is typically a continuance of the 30-day event, and brings attendees back into an environment that encourages further discussion about a variety of reintegration topics.

Who may attend: Service Members and Families
What to expect: The 60-Day Post-Deployment event usually involves discussion about communication issues, mental health awareness and referral, emotional fitness issues, and more. Additional services are available to assist with child and youth issues, single Service Member issues, domestic violence awareness, substance abuse awareness, financial management , driver safety, and legal matters.

90-Day Post-Deployment Events
This event centers on the completion of the Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA).

Who may attend: Normally, this event applies to Service Members only
What to expect: Specific programs focus on the Service Member and their adjustment and reintegration process. Service Members will also have the opportunity to reconnect with other members of their unit.

 

When a Loved One Deploys

As a military spouse or Family member, you make tremendous sacrifices, too. Seeing a loved one embark on a long separation isn't easy, and you shouldn't try to go it alone. That's why the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program isn't just for Service Members – it's for Families too, providing services, resources, and information to help you handle deployment and weather the challenges that arise when there is one less parent, spouse or provider in your household due to deployment. In fact, During Deployment Events are made just for you.
 

Who qualifies as "Family"?

For purposes of attending a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event, Family includes the Service Member's spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and/or significant others. Funding may not be available for all types of Family members, so it's important to check with your Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Event Coordinator to:

a) See if you may attend as a Family member or Designated Individual, and

b) Find out if your attendance will be funded.

Some things you can expect from attending a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event are:

  • Points of contact to valuable resources in your community
  • Coping strategies and tips for dealing with your loved one's separation
  • Information about benefits and entitlements you may have earned through your loved one's service
  • Connecting with other Families who share the same experiences
  • Awareness and information you can use as you help your loved one reintegrate into civilian life after deployment
  • In a special initiative for National Guard children, the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has partnered with Sesame Street to bring "Listen, Talk, Connect" to local Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program events! Learn more about Sesame Street's military outreach program click here.
  • Attending a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event can strengthen your Family for the changes that occur while your loved one is deployed and after they return. To learn about the Deployment Cycle and how it may affect your Family, click here.


AfterDeployment.org
AfterDeployment.org provides information on a wide variety of topics. A few highlights are re-connecting with family and friends, kids and deployment, depression, anger, and stress management. Each topic has four components: Assessments (no personal identification required), Workshops, Spotlight Clips and Resource Library.