The Experience of Reintegration for Military Families and Implications for Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Programming

This report provides a comprehensive summary of the research on the reintegration experiences of Service members, military spouses, and military children. It examines Service member and spouse experiences across six domains, including mental health, social functioning, relationship functioning, spiritual functioning, physical health, and financial well-being. Children’s experiences are organized into the categories of mental health, academic functioning, family relationships, and parenting. In light of the findings from the reintegration literature, the report reviews current Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) offerings and proposes potential enhancements to program content, format, modes of delivery, and partnerships.The YRRP’s continued commitment to the entire family throughout the deployment cycle has the potential to enhance resilience, bolster wellness, improve family functioning, and, ultimately, strengthen the readiness of the entire National Guard and Reserve force.