315th focuses on helping families with Yellow Ribbon program

Published June 15, 2009
By Capt. Wayne Capps
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Reservists and families from the 315th Airlift Wing get a new helping hand after returning from a long deployment.

In the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act, congress mandated that the reserve forces provide additional deployment and reintegration support for families and reservists.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a national combat veteran reintegration program is charged with providing National Guard and Reserve members and their families with sufficient information, services, referral and proactive outreach opportunities throughout the entire deployment cycle.

The Yellow Ribbon Program places heavy emphasis on preparing service members and their families for the stresses associated with separation and deployment. . It is a great get-a-way for them to learn how deployments can impact the entire family and also understand their benefits. This is what the new Yellow Ribbon program affords us to do for the service member and the family," said Lisa Sweatt, director of the 315th airman and family readiness office.

The 315 AW kicked off its Yellow Ribbon program with a family retreat to Myrtle Beach, S.C. The weekend retreat was attended by over 100 Airmen and family members. All of the Airmen recently returned from deployments.

"This was an opportunity for our reservists and their families to actually sit down and learn the tools and benefits that are available to them," said Col. Steven Chapman, the commander of the 315th Airlift Wing, who was on hand to open the weekend.

"For the first time ever, we are bringing reserve members and their spouses in on orders to hear firsthand what we can offer them. It is a great get-a-way for them to learn what their benefits are," said Lisa Sweatt, director of the 315th airman and family readiness office.

Master Sgt. Sid Hursey, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 315th Airman and Family Readiness office, helped plan the event and was passionate about hosting the get-away. "We did this to make sure our families get the attention they deserve. Most of our wing members don't actually live near an Air Force Base and it is difficult for them to get what they are entitled to," said Hursey. "You don't know what to ask for if you don't know what you are entitled to."

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carl Yost, a Charlotte, N.C. resident who recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, attended the event with his wife Debra. "I am getting a lot of good information that is applicable to our life situation," said Debra Yost. "It was also nice to finally meet some of the people that he has talked about for years. It was a restful and relaxing weekend with some good information."

During the reintegration weekend, families had the opportunity to speak with professionals about post-deployment benefits available through the Veteran's Administration and Tricare Health Insurance. They also had the opportunity to speak with financial and educational consultants, just to name a few.

Senior Master Sgt. Linda Sturgeon attended the retreat with her husband Gary and has deployed twice in the past three years. "When we come back, we are not focused on taking care of our benefits. Coming back was a big adjustment, there is a lot of stress that comes with coming back," said Sergeant Sturgeon. "Spouses don't normally get post deployment information and if I don't remember to tell him, he doesn't know.

Overall, the weekend event was viewed as a big success for the wing. "We believe in families and this is why we are doing this," said Master Sergeant Hursey.

The unique part of the Yellow Ribbon program is wing members can attend Yellow Ribbon sessions put on by other units. The next 315th Yellow Ribbon program will be a pre-deployment session held in July 2009. These programs will continue on an ongoing basis.

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact the 315th Airman and Family Readiness Office at (843) 963-5818 or you can email Lisa Sweatt at Lisa.Sweatt@charleston.af.mil.