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New Yellow Ribbon Program representative

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Adriana Barrientos
  • 433rd Airlift Wing

The 433rd Airlift Wing and 960th Cyberspace Wing Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program here changed representatives Sept. 1, 2022.

Master Sgt. William Bonner, 433rd AW inspector general self-assessment program manager, assumed the role from Senior Master Sgt. Kay Lachney.

The YRRP is a Department of Defense effort to help National Guard and Reserve members and their families connect with local resources before, during and after deployments.

Service members and their families attend Yellow Ribbon events to directly access information on health care, education and training opportunities, and financial and legal benefits from subject matter experts.

The goal of the Yellow Ribbon Program is to assist as many deployers and their families as possible during the pre-and post-deployment experience,” said Bonner. I want to get as many people as I can to attend an event.”

According to Bonner, the unit YRRP representative is responsible for tracking and communicating event opportunities with 433rd AW and 960th CW deployers before and after they depart.

Lachney, who spent the last 18 months in the position, said that Airmen who were on the fence about attending are often glad they went.

“For some families who may have never experienced a deployment, the information available gets them acquainted with health care, education opportunities, and financial and legal benefits,” she said.

The program helps a lot with morale,” said Bonner. It brings people together after a deployment, or if you decide to go alone, it’s a nice break that teaches you about services and benefits available to you during and after your service.”

Service members who have been called to active duty in support of a deployment under presidential order for at least 120 days are eligible to attend an event.

For any questions about the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program or any other resources for service members and their families, visit: WWW.AFRC.MIL/ABOUT/-US/YELLOW-RIBBON.