|
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The 88th Regional Support Command hosted more
than 400 deploying and recently re-deployed Army Reserve soldiers
and their family members at a Yellow Ribbon Event in Rosemont, Ill.,
Sept. 13-15, 2013.
The purpose of the event and the entire
Yellow Ribbon Program is to provide soldiers and their families with
information, services, referrals, and outreach opportunities
throughout the entire deployment cycle.
|
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brice Bennett, chaplain for the 384th Military
Police Battalion, stands with his wife Melissa and three children
during a Yellow Ribbon Event in Rosemont, Ill., Sept. 14, 2013.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class C.L. Beal)
|
Bryan Taylor, director of the 88th RSC Yellow Ribbon
Program, said one of the most important things accomplished
through these events is providing information and physically
connecting soldiers and families with real resources.
“As soldiers come back from deployment and return to
their communities – it's easy to just say the information is
out there on the web, but by coming to a Yellow Ribbon event
they get face to face contact with actual service
providers,” said Taylor. “In addition to that, we provide
real contacts, websites and 1-800 numbers so they know they
are not alone once they go back to the house.”
Brig. Gen. Alton G. Berry, deputy
commanding general of the 88th RSC, attended the event to
reinforce the importance of the training and ensure the
training met the needs of the participating soldiers and
families.
Berry said the mobilization mission is not
complete until the training gap has been filled – and that
is exactly what Yellow Ribbon events do.
“Soldiers
who have been mobilized before may think they can gain
nothing from these events, but I urge them to not take any
of this for granted,” said Berry. “This is a training event
and there is always an opportunity to learn something new.”
The blocks of training offered ranged on everything from
coping with deployment to the effects and costs of alcohol
abuse.
Participants also received briefs from
experts on the multiple benefits and entitlements available
to them.
In addition to the training, more than 40
Yellow Ribbon Community Partners were on hand to offer
assistance and information to participants. These included
representatives of multiple military resources as well as
employers, colleges and Army Reserve Ambassadors.
Taylor said it is important to remember while the soldiers
and Spouses are going through training – so are their
children.
“We have a fully integrated children's
program,” said Taylor. “It is not a day care – it is not an
art festival, but they sit down and actually meet with
professional instructors and counselors and talk about their
role in the deployment.”
In addition to the training,
the children are also recognized for their service and
sacrifices at a special ceremony where they are presented
True Patriot Certificates.
Berry said making children
part of the event and recognizing them is absolutely
necessary.
“The children have a purpose here. They do
get their fun time, but they also get training and are
recognized for their actions,” said Berry. “This lets the
parents know the kids have done what was asked of them, plus
any time you can recognize a kid – it has value.”
First Lt. Brice Bennett, who recently returned from
deployment to Afghanistan as chaplain of the 384th Military
Police Battalion, attended the event with his wife Melissa
and three children.
In addition to the training
offered to him and his family, Bennett said he was grateful
for the chance to reconnect with the soldiers he deployed
with.
As a military spouse, Melissa said these events
were critical for any Army Reserve family.
“Yellow
Ribbon is absolutely integral to Army Reserve families,”
said Melissa. “Otherwise the families are left out of almost
everything and we don't have any way to connect and know
what's going on.”
*Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon
Program and upcoming events by visiting
www.yellowribbon.mil/
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class C.L. Beal
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
Comment on this article |
