Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program provides for reservists

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carrie Peasinger
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
February 21, 2009 --  The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program ,or YRRP, is rolling out for the 433rd Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve. As deployments increase in frequency, it is vital to prepare service members, families and their communities for transitions from pre through post-deployment. The YRRP partners with helping agencies to make sure everyone in the process receives information regarding the services, referrals and proactive outreach programs Airmen and their families are eligible for.
Services include; legal assistance, jobs search assistance, education and training, health and various discount programs, according to Master Sgt. Niccho Gutierrez, Non-commissioned officer in charge of the 433rd AW Chaplain office. Sergeant Gutierrez is working on integrate the program into the Reserve command.
As an Airman prepares to deploy, he attends a pre-deployment briefing the services available to them. Family members are encouraged to attend. During the deployment, families, commanders and supervisors all keep in touch. Upon return there are post-deploy meetings with the members and their families at 30, 60, and 90 day intervals.
The YRRP program is available to Airmen who are deploying and those who have already returned from the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, or deployed in support of Enduring Freedom or Global War on Terrorism away from home station for 90 days or more, explains Gutierrez..
The program is launching as a result of feedback from previously deployed Airmen. It was discovered that most members were not receiving all of the information available to them about benefits, and leaving family behind without information that could help them understand what the Airmen were going through.
The program is not limited to recently deployed Airmen.  More information about the YRRP is available through Sergeant Gutierrez at the 433rd AW Chaplain office at 925-3556 or 433rd AW Airman and Family Readiness Flight at 925-3650.