Yellow Ribbon inspires young leaders

Published July 1, 2014
By Master Sgt. James Branch
94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

ATLANTA -- Two members of the Air Force Reserve Teen Leadership Council attended a Yellow Ribbon training weekend here this weekend to identify issues that affect children of Air Force reservists and develop strategies to address them.

McKenna Deckard, 17, and Da'Jahnae Provitt, 15, are among 14 youths on the council, which is comprised of teens from across the U.S. selected to represent Air Force Reserve teens and speak on their behalf at selected military functions and programs. To achieve the council's goals of planning, implementing and evaluating Reserve youth programs, its members must attend one Yellow Ribbon event per year. The participation of Deckard and Provitt at the Georgia event marks the first of its kind.

The Yellow Ribbon Program promotes the well-being of reservists and their families by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. It 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.
Each year, the program trains more than 6,000 reservists and family members in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.

Provitt's mother, Master Sgt. Jessica White of the 910th Force Support Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, deployed to the Middle East in 2007.

"Having the opportunity to attend Yellow Ribbon in 2008 as a participant, and now as a council member, further helps me understand the deployment process and its effect on Airmen's families and loved ones," said Provitt.

Deployment of a parent isn't new to Deckard. Her father, Master Sgt. Phillip Deckard of the 434th Civil Engineering Squadron, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and has another possible deployment on the horizon.

"I didn't realize there were so many resources available to families, especially teens, to help with the deployment process," she said. "Attending this weekend gave me a broader understanding, and now I'm able to share this information with other members of the council, as well as other teens whose parents may be deploying."

Penny Dale, 4H/Air Force Partnership youth development specialist, said youth council members were chosen after an intense selection process.

"We received over 50 applications last year. The current members were selected based on detailed applications, personal essays, support from their parents or guardians and letters of recommendation."

Youths must identify and accomplish at least one project per calendar year to strengthen reserve youth programs. At a retreat in San Antonio, the members decided to promote and support Purple Up! for Military Kids, an initiative of the Month of the Military Child, encouraging people to wear purple April 15. Council members promoted the endeavor in their parts of the country. Deckard, president of her high school historical society, invited classmates to join in on the project, raising money and awareness.

'I designed a Purple Up! t-shirt," she said. "We sold them as a fundraiser to build and ship care packages to deployed service members for Veterans Day."

Master Sgts. Nancy Hornsby of Youngstown ARS and Sandi Golden Vest of Grissom ARB, serve as Yellow Ribbon representatives and mentors to Provitt and Deckard, respectively.

"We work with our local council members on a weekly basis," said Golden Vest. "They are not just event participants, but facilitators to other youth. They receive training in project management, budgeting and marketing."

Hornsby said the teens' attendance at the Yellow Ribbon event in Atlanta benefits the Yellow Ribbon Program as well as the teen council.

"Just as service members and their spouses have deployment issues that should be addressed, the children also have a voice that should be heard," she said.