G-1 hosts next round of Yellow Ribbon events for 1-200 Infantry

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Personnel Directorate of the New Mexico Army National Guard hosted another round of Yellow Ribbon events for married couples of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry, July 10, 2021, at the Marriott Pyramid North here.

Yellow Ribbon events are designed to assist the Soldiers and their families with reintegration after their units returned from deployment to the Horn of Africa last year.

During these two workshops, Soldiers and spouses received 10-minute briefings on financial readiness, career planning, educational benefits, and more. Each couple was required to sign up for at least one “specialty appointment” to receive more in-depth information on a specific topic.

“For the spouses, this is all here for you to understand as well,” said Lt. Col. Todd Kontny, the Director of Family Programs.

Col. Dominic Dennis, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, stressed the importance of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty in obtaining benefits.

“That DD 214 is for the rest of your life and for your family too,” Dennis said.

Brig. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the Deputy Adjutant General of New Mexico, listed TRICARE health plans as an exceptional benefit for military families.

“Thank you for what you do,” Aguilar said. “Take advantage of your benefits.”

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, stressed the Guard’s commitment to service members and families.

“We have experts here to help,” Nava said. “I want to make sure that if anyone in here—and that includes family members, not just service members—needs assistance, we’re going to get you that assistance.”

Nava asked Soldier and spouses in attendance to help him combat two issues facing the New Mexico National Guard: drunk driving and suicides.

“If you enjoy adult beverages, have a plan to get home safely,” Nava said, offering ride shares and designated drivers as two possible solutions.

“Most of you are traditional Guard members,” Nava said. “You can fake the funk for two days at drill, but we need to know if you’re really okay. I need family members to help me make sure you’re okay during the rest of the month when we don’t have eyes on you.”