CONTACT: Lt. Col. Paul Fanning at (518) 786-4518 office, (518) 441-4106 cell

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Dec 04, 2009

TARRYTOWN, NY (12/02/2009)--The New York National Guard's "Yellow Ribbon" Program Office is now conducting special weekend events to help Soldiers and their family members prepare for an upcoming deployment, in addition to supporting reintegration events when troops return. The first mobilization preparation conference is set for the Westchester Marriott this Saturday for nearly 500 soldiers and family members. WHO: The New York National Guard Yellow Ribbon Program Office to support Soldiers and family members of the Jamaica, Queens-based 442nd Military Police Company. WHAT: A pre-mobilization preparation conference for nearly 200 Soldiers and almost 300 family members. Soldiers and their family members will learn about programs and assistance that will be available to them during the 442nds deployment to Iraq. WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 5th WHERE: Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591 Coverage Opportunities: Visuals of speakers talking to Soldiers and families and opportunites to speak with Soldiers and families about the upcoming deployment. Additional Information: The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program was created to help Soldiers and their family members cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while also helping Army National Guard units transition from their federal mobilization status back to state control. Yellow Ribbon events have proved to be an effective way to help reintegrate troops with families, employers and the community. Now it is being used to help prepare Soldiers and family members for future mobilizations. Prior to 2008 the policy for returning Guard units was to give Soldiers 90 days to themselves before they were required to begin coming to regular monthly National Guard weekend drills. While this gesture was well-intended The National Guard learned that Soldiers might begin experiencing problems and had no one to turn to during this period until they returned to training with their unit. Family members also might be put under strain as a long-gone spouse suddenly returned home. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program requires Soldiers to be present for paid assemblies at 30 and 60 days after their return from a combat zone, and invites families to attend as well. The sessions are held in a non-threatening, non-military environment, to provide Soldiers and families a chance to share experiences and talk frankly with each other and counselors about their experiences. Now this model is being used to prepare Soldiers and family members in advance of a deployment as way to better support them and possibly address challenges before they become problems. Nearly 2,000 members of the New York Army National Guard have participated in Yellow Ribbon Re-Integration events in 2008 following the return of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Army-National-Guard/112535293973?ref=search&sid=100000443776901.3155842963..1 Twitter: http://twitter.com/NationalGuardNY YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nynationalguard