News>349th Air Mobility Wing members attend San Diego Yellow Ribbon event for fun, knowledge
Photos
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Master Sgt. Emil Canlas, 349th Logistics Readiness Squadron, shows support to his fellow Air Force Reservists at the Yellow Ribbon event held in San Diego, by volunteering to direct them to the appropriate area on July 20, 2012. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Senior Airman Samuel Sauer, 55th Arial Port Squadron, flashes a smile for the camera while taking a break from a classroom session during a Yellow Ribbon event held in San Diego the weekend of July 20, 2012. Sauer recently returned from a deployment to Bagram, and came to the event hoping to gain information about his G.I. Bill benefits, and gather information for some of his buddies in his unit, he said. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Technical Sergeant Will Blackwell, 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and his wife Kristi Blackwell attend the Yellow Ribbon event in San Diego, Calif., during the weekend of July 20, 2012. Blackwell, who recently returned from a deployment to Bagram is in San Diego for his first Yellow Ribbon event to, “See what’s available.” (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Nancy Mikulin, Commander, 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, pictured here alongside Charlene White, Travis Key Spouse Representative, attend the Yellow Ribbon event in San Diego during the weekend of July 20, 2012. Colonel Mikulin is attending the Yellow Ribbon event to gain valuable insight to the services available to her squadron deployers, and be able to give that insight to her Airmen through her Commanders Calls, she said.(U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Technical Sgt. Meliza Puzon, 349th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, volunteered to work with Yellow Ribbon staff during the Yellow Ribbon event held in San Diego during the weekend of July 20, 2012. Puzon helped register the participants and their families, as well as monitor some of the rooms where classes were being held. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Capt. Liticia Cardona, flight nurse with the 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, takes a snack break during the first day of the Yellow Ribbon conference held in San Diego during the weekend of July 20, 2012. Cardona brought her mother and niece to the event so that they could get a better sense of what goes on in deployments and what services are available to them as family members, she said. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ Senior Airman Amelia Leonard)
by Senior Airman Amelia Leonard
349th Public Affairs
7/31/2012 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Nearly 100 service members, their families, and a team of volunteers gathered at the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel in San Diego to attend a Yellow Ribbon event held here during the weekend of July 20, 2012.
Yellow Ribbon events are designed specifically for service members serving in the United States Air Force Reserve, Air Guard, and their families during the preparation phase of an upcoming deployment, are currently deployed, or have recently returned.
Because reservists do not necessarily deploy as often as their active duty counterparts, the information gained at these events is imperative for a smooth transition from a civilian status Airman to an active duty deployer.
During the duration of the event, members and their families attended various workshops to help them throughout their deployment process. Some of the resources provided to the members and their families included workshops regarding finances, medical and dental benefits during deployment, stress relief, G.I. Bill benefits, support from the Chaplains core, and much more. There were also more than 25 booths set up with representatives from various organizations within the DoD and affiliated organizations. Some of those organizations included the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Veterans Affairs, Judge Advocate General, Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, Military OneSource, and multiple online universities.
