Making the Moment! Yellow Ribbon Program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane Huff
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  This weekend approximately 550 military personnel, spouses, and children attended a Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command Yellow Ribbon event at the Shades of Green resort in Orlando, Fla.

The theme for this joint event was "Making the Moment!" as four reserve wings from Duke Field, Homestead Air Reserve Base, MacDill Air Force Base, and Patrick Air Force Base came together to participate in this conference. Keynote speaker, retired Navy Lieutenant Commander, Chip Lutz used humor to address participants on how to deal with stress. Lutz focuses on leadership coaching and motivational speaking. Some of his tips for building covenants with others are, be positive, smile, be respectful, be flexible, have fun, share a laugh, share a story, and share yourself.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a cooperative network of military services, veteran service organizations, state government departments and other agencies that provide information, resources, referral and proactive outreach to service members and their families throughout all phases of the deployment cycle. Yellow Ribbon events focus on preparing military members and their families for pre-deployment, during deployment, and post deployment phases. 

There were over 20 support agencies from organizations such as the Veterans Administration, Military Life Consultants, Military One Source, Psychological Health Advocates, Operation Military Kids/MOPS, and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, just to name a few.  Job recruitment  agencies from Brevard County Work Force, Tampa Bay Work Force, and Personnel Force Innovation were also in attendance along with several different universities and college programs such as "Troops to Teachers."

The two day conference provided child care for 0-15 year olds while parents could attend breakout sessions suited towards their specific needs. The sessions taught were, keys to communication, spouses forums, personal financial security, massage therapy, relaxation and in-depth meditation techniques, women veterans concerns, reflecting on anger, Chaplains resiliency programs, coping with separation and return, readiness training for the military family, and how to speak to children about deployment.  

Military members attending the conference are in military status for pay, travel, lodging and per diem while family members are on invitational orders covering travel, lodging and meals.