Family, spouses prepare for deployment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station --  Nearly 70 spouses of deploying reservists participated in the first new Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program March 7 held at the Base Fitness Center. Spouses received briefings from Col. Tim Tarchick, 934th Airlift Wing commander and Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Cluka. They also heard from representatives from such organization as Tricare, the American RedCross, Military Family Life Consultants, Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, Military One Source, Operation Military Kids, Airman and Family Readiness, base legal and Public Affairs. 

The program was created in 2007 as part of Governor Tim Pawlenty's Yellow Ribbon Task Force with the aim of helping Minnesota National Guard families cope with the stresses of the deployment cycle. It has now been adopted DoD-wide. 

"This is a DoD program now," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Stoetaert, Yellow Ribbon Deployment Cycle Support representative. "This is geared towards members and their families who are deploying. It provides advice and support from such issues as what a deploying member does with their pet python when gone to home ownership issues. We're here for them. Whatever they need is what we try to get them."
Sergeant Stoetaert admitted having had such short-notice led to challenges to overcome in the inaugural program, but with the help of different people on base it became a success. 

"Thanks to some great members from maintenance, services and public affairs, we had a pretty good program for such short notice. Everyone I worked with picked up their responsibilities and ran with it," he added. 

During one particular briefing, where a 934th spouse talked about the issues she dealt with during her husband's two deployments, drew the most interaction. Several of the attendees remarked about their similar experiences and were happy to be part of the program. 

"A few people said they didn't have this information when their spouses previously deployed, and one woman said she now feels like part of the Air Force family," Sergeant Stoetaert said. 

The sergeant said he's currently working towards making the program more uniform and addressing some logistical issues in order to allow other groups to take advantage of the program, including when individuals leave for deployment. 

"Today's Yellow Ribbon Predeployment Seminar has allowed the Airmen's loved ones to receive vital information about the deployment experience directly from the service providers--through no filters or delay," said Vicki Lokken, director of 934th Airmen and Family Readiness. "Today, they are receiving priority treatment through the Yellow Ribbon program---they deserve no less." 

For more information, contact Sergeant Stoetaert at (612) 713-1227.