It may seem surprising, but reunion, like deployment, can be a stressful time. Questions

and concerns of what to expect are mingled with the excitement of seeing your Guard

Member again. With this in mind, the military offers Reunion briefings to both you

and your Guard Member that can assist in this process.

These briefings also cover changes in:

• TriCare insurance
• Pay and your Service Member’s reemployment rights
• Any health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Follow this link to find local Yellow Ribbon Events

 

Reunion: Not Just a Single Event

There are several phases that Reunion follows:

1. Preparation period, when service members prepare to come home
2. “Honeymoon period” lasts several days after the homecoming
3. Period of disruption, when some challenges might surface
4. Adjustment period, during which new routines, roles, and goals are negotiated
5. Acceptance of your “new” life

 

Getting Back to “Normal”

With all the emotions flying around your home, there are several simple, everyday

actions you can take to help get your home back to “normal”

1. Welcome home your Guard member – make it special, include everyone in the activities

   of the day or week, but stay flexible and keep your Guard member’s transition in

   mind, as he/she is just as emotionally overwhelmed as you are.

2. Be realistic – Know that separation changes people and their roles. Take the time

   to get to know one another again. Enjoy that!

3. Be prepared for mixed emotions – Your emotions at Reunion can be extremely strong,

   joyful and disenchanted. You simply have to accept that everyone is affected and

   you all have work together to get through the emotional rollercoaster ride.

4. Don’t stop talking or listening – Talk about the Reunion through letters, social

   media, phone calls, emails, etc. Chat about what you’re doing to prepare for their

   return and how you feel about it. Include the kids! Be honest and encourage any

   and all questions and feelings.

5. Work on relationship issues – Spouses and couples need to rekindle their romance

   and get to know each other again without family and friends around. Talk honestly

   with each other; let your partner know how you want to grow together again.

 

Operation R.E.A.D.Y.

This program stands for ‘Resources for Educating About Deployment and You’ and offers

Deployment Survival trainings which helps you understand what to expect during the

deployment and offers a checklist to ensure that you are more prepared for the upcoming

separation, as well as the new personal responsibilities.

To learn more about Reunion and Reintegration, please click here to visit our Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

For any specific questions, please contact your your Family Program Office

Strong Bonds

This program is a unit-based, chaplain-led program that helps Warriors and Families

build and maintain strong relationships. The program’s mission is to build Warrior

readiness by providing skills the Warrior can use to strengthen his or her marriage

or other relationships; available to Singles, Couples, Family, and Pre/post Deployment.

In order to maximize the training effect, this training is done in a retreat format;

where Warriors and Family members can “get away” in order to focus on

building important relationship skills.

For More information contact CH (MAJ) Quentin Collins and Ch, Maj, Colin Smith: