DoD YRRP has launched EventPLUS, a new and improved online event planning tool. EventPLUS is a YRRP-focused tool that enables Reserve Component Event Planners and Staff who support the Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve, to manage and report on YRRP events. It also allows Service members, their families and other eligible participants to locate and register for upcoming events.

EventPLUS was designed following a comprehensive evaluation of the JSS Event Planning Tool (EPT), YRRP's original event planning system, and a thorough analysis of Service feedback. EventPLUS provides visitors with improved layout and functionality, Service-specific customization, regularly scheduled enhancements and robust technical support.

The Vets4Warriors peer support helpline (1-855-VET-TALK) provides easy access to supportive, non-attributional conversations with trained veteran peers representing all branches of the military. This team of veteran peers has immediate access to mental health clinicians to respond to potentially emergent issues and can offer referrals to local community services, military veteran centers, and military healthcare providers based upon the needs of the Service member.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program provides funding for the Vets4Warriors program and its efforts to promote individual resilience, risk reduction, and coping skills through peer support and referrals to community-based services. Vets4Warriors promotes the growth of these self-development skills without the potential stigma that some Service members may associate with help-seeking behavior.

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) is collaborating with YRRP to encourage National Guard and Reserve families to reduce deployment stress by leading healthier lifestyles. In support of this effort, PCFSN is providing engaging council members to speak at YRRP events across the country about ways to adopt regular physical activity and good nutrition. Additionally, PCFSN and its partners are distributing free fitness benefits for National Guard and Reserve families, including free personal training hours and free six month gym memberships.

To request a council member to speak at one of your upcoming YRRP events, complete a PCFSN speaking engagement request form today.

Military OneSource is a free non-medical DoD counseling program for Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve Service members and their families. The counseling is designed to empower participants to anticipate and resolve a broad range of challenges associated with the military lifestyle, such as: stress management; decision making; financial management; communication; grief; family issues; and parenting-skills issues. Counseling services are conducted in-person, over the phone, or online via instant messaging.

Military OneSource counseling services may be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling (800) 342-9647 or by visiting www.militaryonesource.com.

The YRRP Center for Excellence (CfE) provides National Guard and Reserve support staff, program managers and event planners with tools, briefings and documents to help them deliver tailored, dynamic and relevant information to Guard and Reserve members and those who support them at Yellow Ribbon events nationwide. Currently, the CfE contains Policy & Guidance, Event Curriculum, Event Planning Tools, Videos and other useful YRRP resources.

Over the coming months, the CfE will undergo of series of enhancements, including new and expanded content and an improved user interface for more intuitive navigation. Stay tuned for more details about these upcoming enhancements.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center

801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C.

January 13, 2012

8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m

As part of the "Hiring our Heroes" program, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its partners are hosting the nation's largest career forum and hiring fair dedicated exclusively to military spouses. For more information or to register for this free event, job seekers and employers can go to hoh.greatjob.net. Registration closes January 10, 2012.

About "Hiring our Heroes": In March of 2011, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched its Hiring our Heroes program, a year-long nationwide effort to help veterans and their spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program in partnership with the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS), to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day. Working with an extensive network of state and local chambers, DOL VETS, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and other strategic partners, Hiring our Heroes matches veteran talent with career opportunities in the private sector.



In December 2011, DoD Reserve Affairs introduced its Hero2Hired (H2H) website (www.H2H.jobs) to connect job-seeking Reserve Component Service members and veterans with employers. Established in conjunction with YRRP, H2H.jobs is a free online search engine and community that enables job seekers to search for jobs using military specialties and other criteria, take a career assessment to match skills and interests with careers, learn about different industries, and find a wealth of training and informational resources to assist in seeking a job.

"Hero2Hired is a powerful, comprehensive employment program designed to serve the unique and specific needs of the Reserve Component. It's unlike any other Service member or veteran employment assistance program currently out there" says David L. McGinnis, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

H2H.jobs includes a mobile application for smartphones and tablets, and a search tool for military units to use inside their own Facebook and Twitter sites. H2H will also conduct numerous in-person and virtual H2H job fairs and will use its H2H mobile job resource center and trained representatives to support 200 event days around the country in areas with high RC unemployment. Visit H2H.jobs today!



  

In May 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama joined the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) to announce a new fitness industry effort to support our military families, particularly National Guard and Reserve families, to further the goals of both of the First Lady's initiatives, "Let's Move!" and "Joining Forces." PCFSN is collaborating with the Department of Defense's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program to distribute free fitness benefits to National Guard and Reserve families at Yellow Ribbon reintegration events throughout the country.

The American Council on Exercise ® (ACE ®), through its vast network of fitness professionals, is committing to a goal of providing at least 1 million hours of personal training and fitness instruction to family members of deployed reservists and National Guard members. Service members and their families can learn more about this effort and find participating fitness instruction in their area online at (www.acefitness.org/joiningforces).

Members of the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) offer free memberships to immediate family members (ages 13 and older, where applicable) of deployed reservists and National Guard members. Clubs may also provide additional benefits such as childcare, children's programming, group classes, discounts for veterans, and discounts for active duty families. Spouses and teen-age children can find participating clubs in their area online at www.healthclubs.com. The website also offers a free digital subscription to Get Active! Magazine, a publication dedicated to promoting healthy living through exercise.

For more information about Joining Forces and how military families can lead healthier and more active lifestyles, visit www.fitness.gov/about-us/key-initiatives/joining-forces/.

The Department of Defense (DoD) recently published the 2011 DoD Compensation and Benefits Handbook, a comprehensive resource guide describing compensation and other benefits service members and their families would be entitled to upon separation or retirement as a result of serious injury or illness.

“The intent of the Handbook is to give seriously ill and injured service members and their families a quick reference guide to information, covering everything they may need during recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration,” said Mr. John R. Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Office of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy (WWCTP).

The Handbook was designed to answer questions in the order in which they are most likely to arise, including chapters on:

• Recovery resources
• Medical care
• DoD pay and allowances
• Disability Evaluation System
• Compensation and benefits
• Reintegration into civilian life

The Handbook was compiled in cooperation with the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and the Social Security Administration, along with the military services. It also provides references to assistance provided by other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations.

Many of the answers to specific questions will depend on the Service member's personal circumstances. Service members should take advantage of the assistance of their Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC), Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Advocate, Navy Safe Harbor Non-Medical Care Manager (NMCM) or Federal Recovery Coordinator (FRC) to help find the answers to questions or contact the appropriate experts.

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from Office Of Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy.