HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD CONDUCTING REINTEGRATION EVENT FOR RECENTLY DEPLOYED SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
For Immediate Release: September 16, 2009
HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD CONDUCTING REINTEGRATION EVENT FOR RECENTLY DEPLOYED SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHEN: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, Sep. 20, 2009
WHAT: “Hawaii- Beyond the Yellow Ribbon”: A Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon event for redeployed soldiers and family members
WHO: Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers and their families, Governor Linda Lingle, Governor, State of Hawaii, Major General Robert G.F. Lee, State Adjutant General
WHERE: Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu, HI
Honolulu, HI- The Hawaii Army National Guard will be conducting a “Yellow Ribbon” Reintegration Program for the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team soldiers, which also consists of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, who have recently returned from deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A mandatory DOD program, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration events are intended to provide a continuum of preventive, proactive soldier and family support, and care programs that focus on ongoing health and wellbeing needs of soldiers and their families.
The 29th IBCT soldiers are in the last phase of their deployment cycle (pre-alert, alert/pre-deployment, deployment, post-deployment and reintegration). This phase has three Yellow Ribbon events scheduled specifically at 30, 60 and 90 day intervals after returning home from deployment.
On Sunday, September 20, 2009, the 30-day Reintegration event will be at the Hawaii Convention Center. During the 30-day event, soldiers and their families will receive briefings that will cover VA benefits, veterans services organizations, veterans counseling information, TRICARE (medical benefits for veterans), personal financial management, legal readiness, ESGR(Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) and the Department of Labor Career and College Fair. The Career and College Fair will include more than 100 employers, to include the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, State, Federal and other governmental agencies as well as seminars about health, legal services/benefits and other educational opportunities.
“We have a sacred obligation to our Warriors who are returning from deployment to support them as they reintegrate back into our workforce and our communities,” said Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, State Adjutant General. “We must go beyond the return ceremonies and symbolic untying of the yellow ribbons. The event on Sunday helps us fulfill that obligation.”
The event is open to Hawaii National Guard personnel and all branches of military reserve personnel and their families. About 2,500 soldiers and their families are expected to attend the program this Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There will also be a Community Covenant ceremony to reaffirm commitment sustaining the support for Hawaii’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coastguardsmen who serve our state and nation with distinction. Governor Lingle, Hawaii National Guard leadership and community members will be on hand to sign the document prior to a luncheon.
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For more information, contact:
Lt. Col. Charles Anthony
Public Affairs Officer
charles.anthony@hihick.ang.af.mil
Office: (808) 733-4258
