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GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — The 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 7th Civil Support Command’s Soldiers and their families from the KMC attended a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event conducted by the 7th CSC Family Programs Office Oct. 25 to 27.
The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, an event unique to the Army Reserve and National Guard, is a Department of Defense-wide effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve members, families and their communities, by connecting them with resources throughout the deployment cycle.
The yellow ribbon program (was first) implemented in 2008, said Shirley Martin, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program project officer assigned to U.S. Army Reserve Command located at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“The services were required to fulfill a Congressional mandate — support Army Reserve Soldiers and their families throughout the deployment cycle, and for at least six months after deployment to make sure Soldiers are reintegrated back into family life and into their home. Based on the mandate, we conduct six events during the deployment cycle,” Martin said.
“The YRRP began to fulfill a need during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the increasing reliance of the active component upon Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers,” said Amy Rodick, 7th CSC Family Programs director and YRRP coordinator.
Unlike their active-duty counterparts, many Army Reserve Soldiers and their families live far away from military installations. This distance can also mean a gap in the support network developed by fellow unit members. The 7th CSC’s families are spread out over 1,300 miles throughout Europe.
While the 7th CSC units are primarily located in Germany and Italy, many of the service member’s families, friends and loved ones are scattered throughout many European countries. The Army Reserve members who attended were able to obtain information on health care, education and training opportunities, financial, and legal assistance.
During the event family members were able to update identification cards, draft legal documents, learn about reintegration and coping skills, communication skills and strategies, recognition of the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention and receive answers to deployment financial questions.
Lena Williams, wife of 2nd Lt. Laney Williams, an officer with the 1177th Movement Control Team, also attended.
“My husband is in Afghanistan for two months now and since I’m living in the very north of Germany, this event really helped me to connect with other wives and build a network, exchange experiences and feelings and know that there are other women that go through the same thing and to deal with it together makes us strong,” Williams said. “I experienced some of the effects of (deployment on) me. First it was scary but it was important to say ‘it’s OK and I go through this in a positive way and be stronger at the end’. Everyone is very supportive, everyone understands and there’s room to exchange, which I think is the most important, — experiences and talk about this to other women.”
Sgt. 1st Class Larry Parker Jr., a civil affairs NCO with D Company, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, said the Yellow Ribbon program is very important to Army Reserve Soldiers in Europe.
“It brings all of them together to give them information for the family members, to help them when their deployed,” Parker said. “I am looking forward to getting more advice on how to help me and my family better integrate after returning back after deployment. The bottom line is it’s for family and explains to the families the services available to them and how to use them.”
Parker, who deployed to Afghanistan from November 2012 to February 2013, attended with his wife, Gabrielle, and daughter.
First Lt. Joel Whitley, a platoon leader with the 406th Human Resource Company, is preparing to deploy, and his wife Tiffne Whitley (both work for a non-governmental agency in France as civilians) attended together.
“(This) has been great for us to be around the families of others being deployed,” Whitley said. “(It shows the) commitment to the families, even with the budget crisis, it means a lot.”
“We chose the location because it is a little bit more intimate and outside of the normal military services location and mindset,” Rodick said.
“We want to conduct the events away from the units and we don’t want them in uniform,” Martin said. “It relaxes them. There not so focused on the rank structure; they’re more focused on getting the information. Plus, they can take advantage of the recreational aspects and get some quality family time that comes with the site where the events are being held. We want it to be a positive experience, and it works.”
