Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program provides resources for Texas Guardsmen

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES

11.06.2018

Story by Sgt. Amberlee Medina 

100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

AUSTIN, Texas– As several National Guard units across the state of Texas prepare for
deployments, representatives from the Texas Military Department’s Yellow Ribbon
Reintegration Program reach out to the service members and their families to better prepare them
for the upcoming journey.
“The mission of the Texas Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is to
prepare Texas Military families for all phases of the deployment cycle and create an atmosphere
that connects service members and families,” said Shandra Sponsler, branch manager for the
Texas Military Department Family Support Services & State Family Program.
Each National Guard and Reserve component conducts Yellow Ribbon events before, during and
after deployments that are tailored to meet the needs of Soldiers and their families.
“There are several different meetings and seminars that are held for the families and the Soldiers
to orientate them to the things that are available to them. Including benefits, how to access
Tricare, who to contact in case of an emergency, and other things that all military families￾especially in the Guard- aren’t always familiar with,” said Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Aris,
commander of the 71st Troop Command.
“Since the program began in 2008, over 23,000 service members and 30,000 family members of
the Texas Army National Guard have benefited from the resources provided at Yellow Ribbon
Program events,” said Sponsler.
Sgt. Sheryl Johnson is one of the many Soldiers who benefited from the program.
“I was deployed in 2010, for my second deployment. At the time, I had two young children and
had just moved to Texas from the state of Florida. The Family Readiness Group and Yellow
Ribbon were able to assist my family in establishing a connection within the Austin community
and made sure my family understood what benefits were available for them,” said Johnson
“which made my transition from civilian to Soldier a lot easier”.
“Every person that participates in the Yellow Ribbon benefits. It covers a broad spectrum of
support, from the worst to the best. It also makes the Soldiers feel better to know that their
families are being taken care of back home,” said Aris.
The numerous resources provided by the program not only prepare and navigate Soldiers and
families through the hardships of deployment but also support service members to successfully
reintegrate back into their families, communities, and careers.
“Upon redeployment, the transition assistance that I personally received was phenomenal,” said
Johnson.
As many Soldiers across the state mentally and physically prepare themselves for the upcoming
deployments, their minds and hearts can rest easy knowing that the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration
Program is readily available to them and their families during trying times.
“The National Guard is like a three-legged stool. It is composed of your civilian job,
your military job, and your family. All three must function properly to be successful in the Guard
and accomplish the mission. The National Guard recognizes this, and the program was made to
provide the support needed for all three aspects to function smoothly,” said Aris.

• Date Taken: 11.06.2018
• Date Posted: 01.15.2019 11:22
• Story ID: 298927
• Location: AUSTIN, TX, US