The purpose of the Wisconsin Badger Yellow Ribbon (BYR) program is to provide current information, resources, available services and proactive outreach opportunities for service members, Families, employers, and youth throughout the entire deployment cycle. The Yellow Ribbon Program works under the Wisconsin Service Member Support Division (SMSD) to ensure that service members and their Families receive the information about the services available to them including but not limited to: Tricare, VA support, financial planning, Family counseling etc.
All BYR events will provide childcare during the event at no cost to the Family. You need to register for each event and register the children that will be attending with you so we can be sure to provide enough supplies and childcare staffing. Army National Guard Families will receive reimbursement for mileage to the event if they do not live in the same zip code of the event they are planning to attend. Other branches of service will need to check with their units about possible reimbursement. You will need to register with children, at a minimum of 10 days prior to each event. Once registration is received you will receive an email confirming your registration.
Pre-Deployment
Events included, but not limited to:
- OPSEC/Public Affairs/Social Networking
- Military One Source
- Tricare/United Concordia
- Legal
- ESGR – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
- Red Cross
- What to plan for during the Deployment Cycle
- What is an FRG and how can you be involved?
During Deployment
Events included, but not limited to:
- Stress Management During
- Helping Children Deal With Deployment
- Financial Readiness During Deployment
- Family Wellbeing
- Anger Management During Deployment
- Understanding Combat Stress
- Taking Care of Yourself
- Getting Ready for the Return
Reunion
Events included, but not limited to:
- What to Expect When Your Service Member Returns
- Through a Returned Service Members Eyes
- Transition Assistance Advisor
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
- Family Battlemind