Yellow Ribbon program assists redeployers with access to resources Published Dec. 20, 2010 By Lt. Col. James Bishop 439th AW Public Affairs WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- -- Below is information about the Yellow Ribbon program and benefits for activated reservists. Yellow Ribbon FAQs What is Yellow Ribbon? The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, established by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, is part of a DoD-wide effort to help the 1.2 million National Guard and Reserve members and their families connect with the best resources available before, during, and after deployments. Reservists returning from a deployment and their families go to a resort to hear presenters talk about the benefits they've earned and to have some quality family time. How many events are there? In fiscal year 2010, the Air Force hosted 82 events, with 8,100 attendees. Who is eligible? Anyone who has been deployed away from family for more than 90 days. Where are the upcoming events? The next Yellow Ribbon event will be held Feb. 26-28, 2011, at Virginia Beach, Va. All attendees are authorized air travel along with all other reimbursable expenses. Future event locations in the Northeast Region include St. Louis in March, Philadelphia in April, Cincinnati in May, and Boston in August. The wing commander ultimately determines who is eligible to go to an event. Where do I get more information? Contact Airman and Family Readiness for information and eligibility requirements at 413-557-3024. I heard about another Yellow Ribbon program connected with tuition assistance? What's that about? There is another "Yellow Ribbon Program" connected with the Post 9-11 GI Bill. Same name. Different benefit. The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, aka the Yellow Ribbon Program, is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows degree-granting institutions in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Veterans Administration to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. For more information on the VA Post 9-11 Bill, visit gibill.va.gov or call the Base Education Office at (413) 557-3440. "The benefits are amazing" - Military OneSource Military OneSource is one-stop shopping for military and family members. Call center specialists provide information about a wide range of military and civilian resources and counseling services. "This is really the Swiss Army Knife of benefits," said 439th Airlift Wing Command Chief Zigmund Skawski. If you need free and confidential counseling, child care, spouse employment, healthy-habits coaching (everything from weight management issues to relation techniques), contact Military OneSource. The counseling is available by phone, face-to-face, or online. You can get a free pedometer to measure how far you've walked, or a CD on relationship issues. Counselors are available to help you deal with anything from combat stress to referrals to eldercare providers. The group even has free translation and interpretation services for more than 140 languages. Military OneSource is available for all active-duty, Guard, and Reserve regardless of activation status, and their families. They can be reached at (800) 342-9647 or MilitaryOneSouce.com. 911 - When You Need Help Now Marriage failing? Having thoughts of suicide? Is your anger out of control? Have other things that typically serve as your supports come crashing down around you? If you need help and are either tough enough or desperate enough to seek it out, help is available. The most common problems seen from deploying airmen involve marriage and money, says retired Col. Mary Hill, Chief of the Yellow Ribbon Program for the Air Force Reserve. What should a family do? There are numerous options. Contact Military OneSource at (800) 342-9647 or MilitaryOneSouce.com, which will refer people to free, confidential counseling by phone, online chat, or face-to-face. For longer-term counseling, contact the Air Force Reserve Psychological Health Advocacy Program, which has full time mental health teams, at (937) 257-2396. The PHAP differs from Military OneSource in that PHAP offers long-term counseling and will have dedicated staffers make follow-up and check-in calls, said Lt. Col. Jennifer Wedel, Case Facilitator for PHAP. Colonel Wedel said the most common problems she sees are post-deployment anger, money management, trouble with children, and sleep problems. Closer to home, Base Chaplain (Maj.) Ted Nicholson at (830) 480-2841 also offers free, confidential counseling. Call Airman and Family Readiness at (413) 557-3024. They'll cut through the red tape and serve as a resource to get you help. The help could be free and confidential marriage counseling, financial counseling, help with children, and a wide array of other benefits. The family readiness staff also runs the Key Spouse Program, which provides morale support to family members while service members are deployed. A Smorgasbord of Benefits Veteran's Administration Combat Zone Benefits: if you served in a designated combat zone since Nov. 11, 1998, active and reserve members are eligible for five years of free medical care from the date of separation. Contact Sheila Davies, OEF/OIF Nurse Care Manager for the Northampton VA Medical Center at (413) 584-4040. For information on the VA healthcare benefits visit va.gov/healtheligibility or call 877-222-VETS. Operation Military Kids provides "hero packs" - backpacks or tote bags - to military youth who have a deployed family member. They also run educational programs to support young people in military families. Visit operationmilitarykids.org. Military and Family Life Consultant Program provides free, non-medical, short-term counseling to service members and their families. Counseling issues include anger management, relationship issues, parenting, communication, work troubles, and decision-making skills. For the complete list of benefits available to activated reservists from our January Patriot issue, click here.