Yellow Ribbon: Taking Care of Family

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  To do its part in supporting the Reserve family, the 403rd Wing has scheduled its first pre-deployment event under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program to be held July 26-27 at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, Biloxi, Miss. 

The purpose of this event is to provide wing members and their families the opportunity to meet and connect with other family members, as well as the chance to learn more about the deployment process and what services are available to help them through this time. 

The Yellow Ribbon program was implemented July 22, 2008, for all military branches by the Under Secretary of Defense to provide deployment support and reintegration programs for National Guard and Reserve members and their families. 

This effort has been spearheaded at the 403rd by several shops within the wing, such as Chaplin Service, Family Readiness, and the Aeromedical Staging Squadron. A 403rd Wing Chaplain (Maj.) Ray Thompson said the Yellow Ribbon pre-deployment event is meant to facilitate a relaxed atmosphere where reservists and their family members will receive valuable information and resources. 

"It's an informal environment to get information out," said Chaplain Thompson. "Information is comfort. So if the families have more information, they can better understand what their loved one who's deploying is going through, while at the same time the deployers understand what their families are going through. Our job is to make sure you have enough information up front so you and your family can prepare for that deployment." 

Family Readiness technicians Master Sgt. Joe Dorsey and Tech. Sgt. Jimmy Smith said representatives from various units within the wing will be on hand at the afternoon mixer July 26, and at the full-day event on the 27th to provide information on entitlements such as TRICARE insurance, Veterans Affairs benefits, Military OneSource, legal information and a variety of other useful resources. 

The Yellow Ribbon program encompasses all phases of the deployment - before, during, and after. 

"While they (reservists) are deployed, we want them to know that their family members have not been forgotten, and also for the family to know that they are not forgotten," said Chaplain Thompson. "It's easier for you to focus on your mission if you know your family is being taken care of." 

One of the ways the wing will do this is through the 403rd Key Family Member Program. The KFMP is headed up by Nancy Muscatell, wife of 403rd Wing Commander Brig. Gen. James Muscatell, and JerriLynn Patriquin, wife of 403rd Operations Group Commander Lt. Col. Louis Patriquin. According to Mrs. Muscatell, the mission of this program is to ensure the well-being of family and friends of activated reservists by providing information, communication and resources. 

"The program is made up of volunteers who will make phone calls to family members of deployed reservists, to see if they're OK and if there is anything they need," said Mrs. Muscatell. "If an emergency arises, we can pass on information on who they can contact to seek assistance." 

Once wing members return from being deployed, the wing will host a series of post-deployment events, beginning 30 days after reservists return, to focus on reconnecting them and their families. This is to help them address issues such as combat stress and post-traumatic stress, and to help them transition back into family and civilian life. 

"It's a great program," said Chaplain Thompson. "This wing has done a real good job of taking care of its folks, but to have this program in place is going to be a great asset to the wing and the families. It will allow reservists to focus on the mission (while deployed) and allow us to focus on the families." 

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, contact the wing's Chaplain's Office at 228-377-0400 or Family Readiness at 228-377-0557. Information regarding the 403rd Key Family Member Program can be obtained from Nancy Muscatell at nancypr@msn.com, JerriLynn Patriquin at jlmpatriqin@aol.com, or on Facebook under the group "403rd Wing Spouses."