The VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was passed and signed into law last November in an effort to combat veteran unemployment. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for unemployed veterans, which begins on July 1, 2012. Appications for the VRAP can be submitted starting on May 15, 2012.

VRAP will offer 12 months of training assistance to 99,000 unemployed veterans who are at least 35 years old, but no older than 60. Eligible participants will receive up to 12 months of training assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). In addition, the Department of Labor will offer employment assistance to every veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP.

The tear-streaked face of a child buried in the uniformed shoulder of his or her parent as the parent returns from war. That's the image, which, to many, says "the end." The parent made it home safely, so that's it... right? As far as Congress was concerned, it wasn't.

As part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, Congress mandated implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP). The Secretary of Defense was directed to establish the program and provide Reserve members and their families with sufficient information, services, referrals and proactive outreach opportunities throughout an entire deployment cycle.

In 2010, the Coast Guard established the YRRP to ensure deploying Coast Guard members, families and others connect with local resources before, during, and after deployments.





National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their family members can now receive online tutoring and homework assistance from Tutor.com at no charge.

The free service is now available to all Guardsmen and Guard and reserve members' families, regardless of duty status, said the assistant secretary of defense David McGinnis earlier this week. Prior to the program's enhancement, Guard and reserve families could only access the service while on Title 10 duty.

The availability of the program is the result of a collaborative effort between the Department of Defense Morale, Welfare and Recreation Library Program and the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

The program allows kindergarten through high school students as well as adult students the opportunity to interact with a live tutor online anytime for help with homework, exam preparation, and other academic assistance.

Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Snedden of the 1/221st Cavalry, who is also an algebra and geometry teacher at Wooster High School in Reno, perused the web site with his seventh-grade son and wife, who is also a teacher.

"The program was great," Snedden said. "I tried the site with questions I give in my geometry class. I was worried that the tutors would just do the problem for you and not really teach you how to do it, but they didn't. The tutor would guide you with questions to the answer."

Students using Tutor.com are matched with an expert in their respective field. These experts include certified teachers, college professors, graduate students and other professionals.

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from 152nd Airlift Wing.

More than 750 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guard members and their families made history when they attended the country's first multi-Service Yellow Ribbon Reintegration event in Dallas-Ft Worth on August 26 to 28.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program was initiated by Congress in 2008, and offers access to information, resources and benefits to National Guard and Reserve service members and their families before, during and after deployments.

"Less than one percent of the American population wears a military uniform, so you are among heroes," said Army Maj. Gen. Charles Luckey, assistant to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve matters, during opening ceremonies. "The wars we've been fighting have been on the shoulders of our armed forces and their families. This Yellow Ribbon event is how we take care of each other and prepare for the future because we don't know what is in store."

More than 800,000 Guard and Reserve members have been activated since 2001, and more than 92,000 are currently activated in support of military operations. The impact of ten years of war has leaders at all levels concerned about the effects on service members and their families, particularly when it comes to topics like combat stress, financial management, employment and health care. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program addresses these issues.

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from 301st Fighter Wing

At the 2011 Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Annual Suicide Prevention Conference, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs said a key to preventing suicide is reducing the stigma associated with mental health care. "We have to change the attitudes that all too often keep people from getting the right care at the right time," Woodson said. He stressed that seeking mental health care is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness adding that, "Getting help is what real warriors do."

Ed. Note: Cross-posted from Military Health System

Geographic transitions are an integral part of military life. They afford an opportunity for growth and reward. Yet they can complicate difficult health care issues by breaking continuity between providers. When transitions include deployment or return to civilian life, it’s important to ensure our nation’s warriors have the right support systems in place. For guardsmen and reservists who are receiving treatment for psychological health concerns, the inTransition program offers coaching support as they move between health care systems or providers. “For some individuals, behavioral health care may be a life-long process, following them from their Department of Defense service through transition to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),” says Capt. Paul S. Hammer, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Director. “Psychological health and well-being are key components of a healthy, fit force. For this reason, the Military Health System is committed to providing continuous care to service members, veterans and their families – anytime, anywhere.”

How Does inTransition Provide Coaching and Support?
inTransition Transitional Support Coaches (TSCs) are specially trained volunteers that support warriors who are concerned about continuity of their mental health treatment during relocation or return to civilian life. TSCs have access to numerous community resources to provide location specific information and support individuals as they move between health care systems or providers throughout the transition period.

This video was a joint venture with the L.A. Film School and the 63rd RSC Yellow Ribbon Program to showcase the depth and real value of the Yellow Ribbon Program.

There are many challenges facing service members when they deploy, but female service members may face different challenges than those of their male counterparts. To address those challenges, the Navy Reserve has taken the initiative to now provide separate sessions to address women warrior issues and concerns at Pre-Deployment Family Readiness Conferences and Returning Warrior Workshops.

Women Warrior breakout sessions are facilitated by women veterans and supported by counselors from the Navy Psychological Health Outreach Program, Veterans Affairs, and Vet Centers. The sessions are held in a comfortable environment where women can openly discuss their concerns and issues that typically are not addressed in other sessions. Facilitators encourage the women participating to drive the discussion and offer techniques to cope with common stressors of deployment. The Navy Reserve also hosts sessions for family and loved ones of deploying female service members. These sessions provide a venue to share concerns, learn about resources, and build a support network while their service member is deployed.