New York Army National Guard Soldiers and Families Conduct Reintegration Program in Tarrytown Saturday

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1st Lt. Petar Mostarac of the 133rd Quartermaster Company guides a container into place at Kandahar Airfield on July 22, 2014 during company operations there (U.S. Army photo) ,

TARRYTOWN, NY (02/20/2015)(readMedia)-- More than 300 New York Army National Guard Soldiers and family members of the Brooklyn-based 133rd Quartermaster Company and the 4th Finance Detachment will take part in the New York Army National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The Soldiers of the 133rd Quartermaster were deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 where they assisted in closing down bases and moving equipment out of the country. The 4th Finance Detachment provided financial support to Soldiers in Afghanistan.

WHO: 140 Soldiers of the 133rd Quartermaster Company and the 4th Finance Detachment, along with their family members, go through the New York National Guard's two-day Yellow Ribbon reintegration program.

WHAT: A New York National Guard Reintegration program in which Soldiers and families learn about their benefits as combat veterans, and learn how to cope with family dynamic changes that can result from deployment. The two-day event begins on Saturday and ends Sunday.

WHEN: Media is invited to visit the opening events between 10 a.m. and noon, on Saturday, Feb. 22.

WHERE: Tarrytown Marriott 670 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown, NY.

Reporters wishing to coverthis event should contact John Willsey at (518) 786-0404 for access .

Coverage Opportunities:

Coverage opportunities include interviews with Soldiers and family members and New York National Guard leaders about the Yellow Ribbon program and the reintegration process.

BACKGROUND

133rd Quartermaster Company

The 133rd Quartermaster Company, based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, mobilized in February 2014 and deployed to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. Central Command material recovery element (CMRE), facilitating the base closures and equipment consolidation throughout Afghanistan.

The Quartermaster Supply Company mission normally operates general support supply facilities to receive, store and issue general supplies for military forces.

The unit also deployed in 2008 to Iraq. Soldiers mobilized in March 2008 and returned from Iraq in March 2009.

4th Finance Detachment

The 4th Finance Detachment is part of the New York Army National Guard's 27th Finance Company which, while deployed, provides financial support, disbursing operations, commercial vendor services, military pay, travel, and internal control to assigned personnel.

The unit mobilized in March 2014 and returned from Afghanistan before the end of 2014.

This was the 4th Finance Detachment's second deployment to Afghanistan. In 2008-09 the unit went to Bagram, Afghanistan.

The Yellow Ribbon Program:

The New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is an effort to help Soldiers and their families cope with the stress of returning to civilian life after deployment, while helping Army National Guard units transition from federal status back to state control.

The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program requires Soldiers to be present for paid assemblies after their return from a combat zone and invites families to attend as well. The sessions are held in a non-military environment to provide Soldiers and families a chance to share experiences and talk frankly with each other and counselors about their experiences.

Each Soldier is given the opportunity to talk to a Veterans Administration counselor and information on jobs, education, careers and health care is made available.

With their families by their side, they hear about benefits and programs such as veterans' benefits, education and job opportunities and available support networks.