Yellow Ribbon Program in Full Swing

By Lt. Col. Matt Leonard,
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2009 – "The Yellow Ribbon Program is off and running," according to program deputy executive director, James "Scotty" Scott. The year-to-date numbers surely provide ample evidence of this.

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2009, the reserve components have hosted more than 1,367 Yellow Ribbon events across the 54 U.S. states and territories. Through these events more than 133,000 reservists and their family members have received valuable training and information about support services available to them before, during and after mobilization.

In addition to helping families understand their benefits and entitlements as they transition in and out of active duty status, the program also provides linkages to services such as referrals, relationship, or other counseling, through Military OneSource, VA Vet Centers, TRICARE, and other state and local programs.

Ultimately, deployment support and military family programs are the responsibility of each unit commander. However, the program assists commanders by actively surveying the best practices from all the military services, and combining those to form a joint program that all members and families may rely on for assistance and support regardless of service, component, or location.

As a former commander himself, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis M. McCarthy fully appreciates the benefit this program provides. "The Yellow Ribbon Program represents an increasingly valuable resource that commander's are able to integrate into their overall deployment support, readiness and support program," said McCarthy.

Advisory Board Continues Progress

Meanwhile, the recently formed Yellow Ribbon Advisory Board conducted its second meeting last week at the Pentagon. In addition to DoD representation, leaders from the reserve components, the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs were in attendance.

The advisory board's mission is to provide to the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, organizationally independent advice regarding DoD's Yellow Ribbon Program. In addition to recommending methods for improving the delivery of services via the program, the board is required to submit a report to the Senate and House armed services committees at least once a year.

The board is presently involved in completing its initial report to Congress, which is due in early September. It also is in the process of finalizing a Department of Defense Instruction which provides Yellow Ribbon guidance to the individual reserve components.