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Yellow Ribbon wraps up year with eye on ‘17

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kelly Goonan
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia

The Air Force Reserve Command concluded its final Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program training weekend of 2016 Sunday doing what it did in 16 prior events this year: promoting the well-being of reservists and their loved ones by connecting them with resources before and after deployments.

"I wasn't aware of the tremendous amount of support there is for military families," said Lateka Benson, wife of Tech. Sgt. Fabian Benson of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. "I'm more prepared for (his upcoming) deployment, and I have a sense of ease and comfort.”

Yellow Ribbon began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles.

The Bensons, married for six years, attended the training with their four children to prepare for the sergeant’s deployment, his second during the couple’s 10 years together and third overall. The 17-year Air Force veteran is a knowledge operations management Airman.

"It's going to be difficult to be the only one making our ship sail smoothly," "Teka" Benson said. "Making sure our kids get to their appointments and after-school activities will be a challenge while their father … is deployed."

In addition to attending group sessions and hearing a keynote speaker together, Yellow Ribbon attendees choose from a variety of break-out sessions such as “Writing Effective Resumes,” “Work/Life Balance Workshop” and “4 Lenses: What’s Your Color?”

Teka Benson, who works as a nosologist for a health-care software company, said she found 4 Lenses the most beneficial session as she discovered a more in-depth understanding of personality traits she and her husband have. With a better understanding of how each faces challenges and what motivates them the most, she said she’ll be able to recognize why certain decisions are made and how the thought process is generated.

Her husband agreed about the effectiveness of that breakout, describing it as “pretty cool,” and said the Yellow Ribbon training overall was a “great family experience.”

"I'm very glad we took the opportunity to come to this one because of the holiday being so close,” he said.

Yellow Ribbon has 12 training weekends already firm for 2017 with others to be added. In 2016, the Air Force Reserve program trained about 7,200 GIs and those closest to them in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.

“We’re already busy preparing for events through next September,” said Mary Hill, a retired Reserve colonel who is the Yellow Ribbon program manager at Reserve headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. “Everyone involved in the program is really honored that we get to support deployers and their families. It’s really a privilege for us to be of service to them.”