Yellow Ribbon program prepares Wichita soldiers for Kuwait deployment

When you deploy overseas as a U.S. Army Reserve soldier, you leave quite a bit behind stateside.

You leave your family, your job, your stability – most everything.

The soldiers of Wichita’s 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command will not go into their 2016 deployment to Kuwait unprepared, however.

On Saturday, its members were in Kansas City, Mo., going through the required Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a series of training sessions that prepare Army Reserve soldiers and their family members for deployment.

The 451st is expecting to deploy to Kuwait for nine months later this spring, the first time the Wichita-based unit will go overseas.

For many soldiers’ families, it will be the first time their loved ones will be gone for such a long time.

“Everybody always thinks of the soldier that goes, but it’s different for the family who’s left behind,” said Rebecca Medicus, command executive officer for the 451st. “They’re the ones that have to deal with who’s going to mow the lawn, who’s going to fix something, who’s going to cook the meals, who’s going to take the children somewhere. You lose such a large portion of your support system.”

During the Yellow Ribbon training, soldiers and their families attended sessions on addressing stress, financial planning and media relations.

Yellow Ribbon, which is mandatory before deployment, also provides a place for soldiers to sign up for Army Reserve benefits.

“The whole point of this program is to let (soldiers) know that you’re making a sacrifice but you have all these benefits here, even something as small as a storage space to store your car over deployment,” said 1st Lt. Sara Mathewson, one of the organizers of the Yellow Ribbon program.

“People come and they think they have these big, scary things they’re dealing with alone. (Yellow Ribbon) gets people to feel like they’re not alone. It gives them tools to deal with certain things, and makes them aware that other people have the same fears.”

Sgt. Luke Hathaway, a Haysville resident, said Saturday’s training will help his wife, Amanda, “and that’s what really matters.”

This will be the first time Hathaway is deployed away from his wife and four children, ages 2, 4, 10 and 11.

“This is really helping, knowing there are resources and things … that I can turn to,” Amanda Hathaway said. “There are other wives and spouses that are here in case I need anything, as far as questions as to what to do and how to do it.”

Dallen Rodman, a 20-year-old private first class from Rose Hill, was at Yellow Ribbon with his mother, Staci Dean.

Dean said she spent time perusing the benefits available to her son.

“It’s nice to know … how all that’s going to work,” she said. “I’ve known for a long time that I was going to lose him to the Army – that’s all he’s ever wanted to do. As long as I can see his face from time to time, we’ll be good.”

The soldiers were surprised at lunch Saturday by a visit from four former Kansas City Royals baseball players – Ed Hearn, Al Fitzmorris, Brian McRae and Greg Pryor.

The players thanked the soldiers.

Preparations for the Kuwait deployment are nearly complete.

Wichita sendoff

The unit will travel to California for more training later this month, and in late February, the 451st is planning a grand sendoff at Intrust Bank Arena.

Medicus said she hopes to attract thousands from around the city to attend the sendoff.

“We want to make this a sendoff the city should be proud of,” she said. “It shows what the city is about.”

The sendoff will be Feb. 21, likely in the morning.

According to Medicus, the unit has already received word that various agencies will support that event, including the city of Wichita, the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. The Patriot Guard also plans to attend.

A company has agreed to provide steak dinners for every soldier the night before, Medicus said.

During the sendoff, people will be able to come into the arena, meet the soldiers and their families, and wish them luck, Medicus said.

After it concludes, the 451st will go to Fort Hood in Texas.

From there, the unit will leave for Kuwait.

“It is amazing what the city is doing and what the civic leaders are doing for us,” Medicus said.

“Everybody’s been wonderful.”

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Yellow Ribbon program prepares Wichita soldiers for Kuwait deployment."