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AFRC News

Mouse house makes moments for deployed Air Force Reservists

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
ORLANDO, Fla. --  Amid the splendor and chaos that can be Walt Disney World here, the Air Force Reserve created a weekend here that was relaxing, informative and family-friendly.

While Mickey was busy entertaining kids next door at the Magic Kingdom, the Air Force Reserve set up shop at Shades of Green, the Armed Forces resort on the Disney complex, to host a Yellow Ribbon event on August 15.

Yellow ribbons have traditionally been tied around trees to welcome home troops who've been deployed in support of war. The AFRC Yellow Ribbon event in Orlando was no different. It served as a reintegration and resource seminar for Reserve Airmen who have recently deployed and for those about to deploy.

The theme for the weekend was, "Making the Moment," and there were many moments to be had with 13 different breakout sessions and over 25 vendors available for the service member and their loved ones to gather for their individual needs.

"This event is to bring together Reservists so we can educate them and their spouses or significant others on the resources available pre and post deployment," explained Master Sgt. Amy Schmid, 920th Rescue Wing Yellow Ribbon Program Manager.

The various breakout sessions allow the member to pick and choose a class that resonates with them and their needs - they ranged from meditation/yoga to personal finance to legal counsel.

"We hope the members take this information back to the Wing and to their peers," Sergeant Schmid said.

A recent deployed 920th RQW Reserve pararescueman, Tech. Sgt. Weston Hufnagel and his wife, Sherri, found the Yellow Ribbon event helpful.

"This was good for us because now we have a little one and the deployments are different. We enjoyed the couple's classes that gave us pointers on improving our communication with each other after deployment," they said.

Among the vendors were the American Red Cross, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Psychological Health Advocacy Program, all designed to help service members' deployment seamless without career recourse.

"This is important information that many members miss out on during and after deployments," said Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Delebreau, Command Chief for the 920th Rescue Wing.

Reserve Airmen are volunteer service members who hold civilian jobs and choose to serve their country simultaneously.

"To be a Citizen Airman requires a great deal of family and civilian employer support to meet the needs of what we refer to the as the three-legged chair - one leg being family, the other is the civilian job and the third is military commitment. All three must be in balance for it to work. Yellow Ribbon helps with the balancing act," said the command chief who recently deployed to Iraq and Haiti.

The Yellow Ribbon is a great idea and it can only grow from here," he added.

The 920th Rescue Wing is the Air Force Reserve's only pararescue unit. According to Air Force leadership, with its mission, combat-search-and-rescue, comes a very high operations tempo, which means a lot of deployments for its members, and one that's not about to subside.

"We are search and rescue folks with high demand and low density (low manning)," said Colonel Robert Dunn, 920th Rescue Wing Commander. "We are the most deployed in the Air Force Reserve."

Wing Airmen are constantly on the go. Within days, a contingent of the HC-130P/N aircrew, maintenance and support Airmen are deploying to the Horn of Africa, and several other squadrons are recently back from Afghanistan and Iraq. The 920th RQW has its hands full with re-energizing its members with information.

"The biggest problem that arises pre and post deployment is that the member doesn't know what programs are available for them or their spouses," said Colonel Dunn.

"I wish I had this service available to me when I deployed," said Senior Master Sgt. Dairo Cardona, 920th Maintenance Squadron volunteer for the event.

With about 550 reservists in attendance from four Air Force Reserve Command bases throughout the country, to include Airmen from California and Portland, Ore., this Yellow Ribbon has been the biggest to date and has no slowing down in the future, said Sergeant Schmidt.

"This is a great turn-out and it's nice to see the spouses' participation and the ability for them to have the exposure to these different resources," said Sergeant Cardona.

"The Airmen who put this on are outstanding," said Colonel Dunn. "They are motivating and got the information out there about the programs that are available to meet the needs of deployers and their families."

The next Florida AFRC Yellow Ribbon event will be held in November. The details are still being worked out but the events will continue to support the Air Force Reservists and their family members who support of overseas contingency operations.