BRINGING HOLIDAY JOY TO OUR TROOPS

Woman’s Day and the Armed Services YMCA’s Operation Holiday Joy

Total Amount Raised to Date by Woman’s Day Readers Since 2004:

 $1,585,979.68

Over  9,000  Individual Donors

On behalf of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) National Board of Directors, the staff and most importantly the young men and women who serve our country and their families, I extend sincere thanks to Woman’s Day and its readership for supporting Operation Holiday Joy.   Woman’s Day readership has contributed over $1.5 million dollars to Operation Holiday Joy in just 9 years.  In addition, to maximize the number of families served, the ASYMCA donates all the staff time and overhead associated with running Operation Holiday Joy.  The generosity and unwavering support shown from Woman’s Day readership has allowed the ASYMCA to purchase and distribute over 1600 pallets of toys (over 320,000 toys) as well as deliver over 25,000 baskets of food at Thanksgiving and Christmas to junior enlisted families in need.

These young heroes and their families are voluntarily serving and sacrificing daily so we can continue to enjoy our freedoms and way of life.   The generosity shown from Woman’s Day readership demonstrates an appreciation for the sacrifices required of these dedicated defenders of our country.

From all of us here at the Armed Services YMCA, thank you for helping make military life easier.

To see thank you notes from military families impacted by this great program, please pick up the May 2013 issue of Woman’s Day Magazine.

Mike Landers

Captain, USN (Ret.)

President/CEO

Click here to see the MidAtlantic Championship- purchase tickets to benefit the Armed Services YMCA!

TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
May 30 – June 2

MOAA Magazine | April 2013 | Page 28

Click here to see how your donation can make a difference

Direct link: http://content.yudu.com/A23hcm/201304AprilFlash/resources/30.htm

 Check out your local Armed Services YMCA for their Youth Development Programs! 

Meet the Armed Services YMCA’s  2013 Angels of the Battlefield, Accepting Awards on Behalf of Their Fellow Medics, Corpsmen and Pararescuemen.

Staff Sergeant Craig Wayman of the United States Army. Wayman was recently awarded MEDCOM’s Non Commissioned Officer of the Year.  He comes from three generations of both sides serving in the military. His step mother, sister and Wayman were all deployed together on his second tour at separate Forward Operating Bases, but were still able to get together at one point. While deployed in Kirkuk, Wayman recommended they provided care for 300 sick and wounded Iraqi nationals. Winning hearts and minds, the medics provided an environment that was pro-American and led to vast amounts of intelligence that led to the recovery of munitions and known terrorists.

Hospital Corpsman Second Class Thomas Turner, United States Navy.  Petty Officer Turner has deployed twice with the 31^st Marine Expeditionary Unit and comes from a line of proud military service by his father and grandfather. His greatest inspiration was caring for Marine Sgt. Paqueno while at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Sgt Paqueno had lost over half his brain during an attack at his checkpoint in Iraq. While he could not talk, Turner was in awe of the determination in his eyes to live and thrive, while his supportive family has never wavered or given up hope of his successful recovery.  They still remain close as Sgt. Paqueno continues on his path to recovery in Florida.

Hospital Corpsman First Class Kenneth Matthews, United States Navy. Petty Officer Matthews has served 12 years in the United States Navy. His mother is also active Navy, while his father is retired Army, and his brother served in the Air Force. His inspiration is his mother, who went from an E-1 Sailor to an O-6 Captain with the Medical Service Corps. Petty Officer Matthews was awarded two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and was the USS Enterprise’s 2012 Sailor of the Year. He also was awarded Flag Letters of Commendation for his life saving work delivering definitive surgical care to over 60 critically injured American and Haitian patients aboard the USS Carl Vinson, the first and only level 2 medical treatment facility in the early phases of the humanitarian mission.

Staff Sergeant Vincent Jones, United States Air Force. Staff Sergeant Jones is married and has a five month old baby boy name Mikael. He has deployed to Afghanistan where he provided life saving treatment to two Americans following an IED blast. The first patient was stabilized and rushed back to the Operating Room where they performed an amputation of the left leg. This wounded warrior is recovering and living at home with his family. The second victim was a treated for burns and injuries and has made a full recovery. Staff Sergeant Jones has been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and is currently stationed at Joint Base Andrews.

Senior Master Sergeant Robert Disney, who is accepting on behalf of all Air Force Pararescuemen. Senior Master Sergeant Robert Disney of the HQ Air Combat Command is currently on Wounded Warrior Status and serves as Pararescue’s Lead Command Standardization and Evaluation Senior NCO.  Senior Master Sergeant Disney has been a Pararescueman for 16 years.  His deployments include Operation Southern Watch (3 times), Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom (3 times), Iraqi Freedom (2 times), JTF-Lebanon, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and two deployments as a member of Special Operation Command, Europe’s in-extremis forces.  He has performed over 400 combat rescues, direct action, and humanitarian rescue missions during his 16 years of service.   He has saved or recovered over 300 Department of Defense and civilian personnel.  Sergeant Disney’s major decorations include the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.  He is married to Mrs. Tess Disney.

Health Services Technician First ClassJasonBosko of the United States Coast Guard. Technician Bosko has served in the Coast Guard for 11 years and considers it an honor to prevent, protect, and provide.  He was recently awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his significant contribution as the program coordinator for Navy Safe Harbor, the Navy/Coast Guard Wounded Warrior Program. He was also recognized for his service to Complex Case Management, where he assisted with catastrophic injury, terminal illness and other challenging opportunities within the Coast Guard’s Operational Medicine Department. Technician Bosko has three children with his wife April and lives in Norfolk, Virginia.

Master Sergeant Kym Ricketts of the United States Army National Guard. Master Sergeant Ricketts currently serves as the Chief Medical NCO, Army National Guard Bureau, where she is responsible for the management, medical sustainment training, and implementation of the Flight Paramedic initiative for the eleven-thousand five hundred Combat Medics. She has held various Leadership positions in her seventeen year career and is also a Combat Veteran. She is accepting tonight’s award on behalf of all of al Army National Guard Combat Medics that serve as Citizen Soldiers across the 54 States and Territories.

Staff Sergeant Jehon Bendokas of the United States Air National Guard. In his position as medic for a team of Americans and Lithuanians that were tasked with instructing Afghan National Police, he provided medical expertise in both a treatment role and an educational role. He taught Afghan National Police instructors how to educate their personnel in advanced first aid techniques and assisted with teaching the Police rank and file–a total of 7 classes, approximately 250 personnel. He also instructed the Afghan National Police on how to teach Afghan civilians best practices and the medical importance of basic hygiene and management of simple first aid to prevent illness. He assisted with providing this education for approximately 50 civilians. He has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and he lives in Fort Worth with his wife Jennifer.
 
 Master Sergeant Michael Franklin of the United States Army Reserve. Master Sergeant Franklin has served in the Army Reserve for 22 years and has deployed to Iraq.  Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is now stationed at Fort Belvoir. Master Sergeant Franklin is married and has three children. Franklin is proud to be a member of the military and considers it to be the best job in the world.

Technical Sergeant Tara Hickman of the United States Air Force Reserve. Technical  Sergeant Hickman has deployed to Turkey in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and served on humanitarian missions to Belize and Alabama, where team members provided $3 million dollars in health services free of charge to over 12,000 uninsured and underinsured Alabama residents.  She also rendered life saving aid off duty to a 79 year old woman who was suffering a stroke before paramedics arrived.

A special thank you to our Master of Ceremonies, ASYMCA Board Member Matt Stover and our Guest Speaker, Admiral Mark Ferguson, Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

We also would like to thank Major Sponsors SAIC and TriWest for their generous support of the event. Our Silver Level Sponsors are United Concordia and Express Scripts. Our Bronze Level sponsors are Raytheon, GEICO, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Pitney Bowes, Robinson Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Veterans United, DRS and Bechtel. Our Event Level Sponsors are Rip It Energy Fuel, the NAI Michael Companies, Greenburg Trauig and J Street Cup. Thank you for making military life easier.

” I cried watching my little ones open the package. My husband cried seeing the pictures. My kids have cried with happiness talking about Daddy. And, my four year old now wants to quilt the whole house with pictures of Daddy – starting with the curtains and the couch. They certainly put some much needed happiness in our home. ” -The Hester Family

The Armed Services YMCA was proud to partner with Jack Daniel’s during the 2012 Holiday Season for Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. Together we were able to send 1,315 individual service members and family members home for the holidays. 323 families drove and 236 families flew home.   Through Operation Ride Home, identified junior enlisted (E-4 and below) single service members, military families, and families of deployed who might not otherwise have the funds or opportunity to travel home, were eligible to receive vouchers and financial assistance for travel by air or vehicle, depending on the distance of their family homes from their current base or installation.

Click on the Map Below to Learn More and See

if We Sent A Military Family Home to Your Hometown.  

Updated 12/12/12

View Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home with the Armed Services YMCA 2012 in a larger map

JACK DANIEL’S “OPERATION RIDE HOME”: HELPING

REUNITE SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS 

Announces Increased Nationwide Effort in Partnership with

Armed Services YMCA of the USA

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (Nov. 8, 2012) – For the second year in a row, the Jack Daniel Distillery will donate more than $100,000 to help service members and their families travel from bases to homes across the U.S. through “Operation Ride Home” this holiday season.

And as with last year’s effort, the famed distillery will be asking its friends to visit www.jdoperationridehome.com and contribute what they can to help in the campaign.  Through travel vouchers for plane tickets and pre-paid debit cards for gas, lodging and food, the distillery hopes to surpass the overwhelming success of last year’s effort that helped send 721 Fort Campbell soldiers and their families home last year.  In addition to Jack Daniel’s contribution, more than $24,000 was collected from the general public through the donation site.

Increasing the national effort, Jack Daniel’s also announced its partnership with the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of the USA – a top-rated military charity that makes military life easier for junior enlisted military families nationwide.  The Armed Services YMCA will partner actively with military commands and committed volunteers to identify those service members and families in most need of financial assistance and to assist them with travel.

“There is nothing like being home for the holidays, and we hope that Operation Ride Home this year will generate an outpouring of support to help those junior enlisted soldiers and their families make it to see their loved ones,” said Jennifer Powell, Senior Brand Manager for Jack Daniel’s.  “We saw the success of the campaign last year and particularly how it provided a mechanism for folks to give just a bit, that when added up with other contributions, made a tremendous difference in these families’ lives.  We want to do even more this year.”

“The Armed Services YMCA is proud to partner with the Jack Daniel’s Distillery for their second annual Operation Ride Home campaign to reunite deserving military with their families for the holidays,” said Capt. Mike Landers USN (Ret), CEO of the ASYMCA. “Last year, in partnership with the Fort Campbell ASYMCA, 721 Soldiers and family members were given the opportunity to travel home and be with family for Christmas.  Thanks to the generosity of Jack Daniel’s and their friends, we will be able to make military life easier for even more military families this coming holiday season.”

Country music star and 10-year Army veteran Craig Morgan will serve as national spokesperson for the campaign in an effort to help spread the word about the financial strain so many of the junior enlisted service members and their families are under during the holiday season.

“Having been there, I know that empty feeling in your gut when you want to travel from your base home for the holidays but just don’t have the money to do it,” Morgan said.  “There are so many of these heroes who have served multiple deployments overseas and haven’t seen their families for years.  Our nation’s military does a wonderful job getting them back to their bases, but it’s just not home.”

Through Operation Ride Home, identified junior enlisted (E-4 and below) single service members, military families, and families of deployed who might not otherwise have the funds or opportunity to travel home, will be eligible to receive vouchers and financial assistance for travel by air or vehicle, depending on the distance of their family homes from their current base or installation.  Interested military can check below to see eligibility, participating locations and Frequently Asked Questions.

Military is welcome to give feedback on the program at feedback@asymca.org.  We look forward to helping  military and their family members get home this holiday season!

Section A:

ELIGIBILITY

Section A: Participating Locations

1.        Hampton Roads, VA

The Hampton Roads Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Hampton Roads ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Oceana Naval Air Station, Naval Air Station Dam Neck Annex, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek and Fort Story, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads and Northwest Annex, Naval Station Norfolk, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Coast Guard Fifth District, Joint Base Langley-Eustis.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the appropriate Service Representative listed.  To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact:

Army, Ft. Story:  Donna Marie Atol, donna.atol@navy.mil, 757-422-7311

Army, Ft. Eustis:  Army Community Services 757-878-3638

Coast Guard: CMDCMC Stephen Dykema at 757-398-6492 or e-mail stephen.r.dykema@uscg.mil.

Marine Corps:  MGySgt John Cordero at 757-836-1581 or e-mail john.cordero@usmc.mil

Navy:   We are working to implement this program with the Navy, the site will be updated when approved by the Navy.

Air Force:  Master Sergeant Toya Moore, Toya.Moore@langley.af.mil;  757-764-9582

2.        Killeen, TX

The Killeen Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home.  The Killeen ASYMCA serves the following military installation: Fort Hood, Texas.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below; both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the Post Chaplin’s Office.  To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Chaplain (LTC) Mark Thompson at (phone number (254) 287-1546) or (email at mark.thompson@us.army.mil) or pick up at the following location on Fort Hood at III Corps Chaplain’s Office, 761st Tank Battalion, Bldg 1001, Rm. C122, Fort Hood, Texas 76544.

3.        Fort Bragg, NC

The Fort Bragg Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the FORT BRAGG ASYMCA. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Lynne Grates at Lgratesasymca@earthlink.net .

4.        Fort Leonard Wood, MO

The Fort Leonard Wood, MO Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Missouri ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Leonard Wood.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the their chain of command. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact the ASYMCA at 573-329-4513 or email ymca@cablemo.net.

5.          Fort Campbell, KY

The Fort Campbell Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Fort Campbell ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru their Unit CSM. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact your unit CSM.

6.        San Diego. CA

The San Diego Armed Services YMCA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of the Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The San Diego Armed Services YMCA serves the following military installations:

Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base San Diego and Naval Medical Center San Diego

POC:

Stephanie J. Du Bose

Education Services Facilitator

Ombudsman Coordinator

Fleet & Family Support Center

Naval Base San Diego

COMM: 619-556-7422/DSN 526-7422

Stephanie.Dubose.ctr@navy.mil

Marine Recruit Depot San Diego

POC:

Mellissa Trevino

MCRD San Diego/WRR

Family Readiness Officer

619/524-8241

Mellissa.trevino@usmc.mil

Coast Guard Section San Diego

Primary POC

Jennifer C. Conole

Coast Guard Base LA/Long Beach ~ Detachment San Diego Work-Life Division Transition and Relocation Manager

2710 North Harbor Drive ~ San Diego, CA 92101 Building C (Tracy Hall)

619-278-7117 (o)

619-278-7127 (f)

Jennifer.C.Conole@uscg.mil

Secondary POC:

Chief Naomi Dennis

Naomi.dennis@uscg.mil

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Miramar

POC

Abby Crespo

3dMAW Family Readiness Officer

858-577-7397 – office

858-336-7391 – cell

abigail.crespo@usmc.mil

Operation Ride home is open to active duty, E-4 and below, both single and married may apply for this program thru their command Ombudsman or Command Family Readiness Officer.

To request an application form (one per family) for consideration, contact the San Diego Armed Services YMCA at 858-751-5755/ 3293 Santo rd, San Diego, CA, 92124 or from your command Ombudsman or Command Family Readiness Officer.

7.        Whidbey Island, WA

The Whidbey Island Washington Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home Program.  The Whidbey Island WA ASYMCA serves the following military installation NAS Whidbey Island WA and all the tenant commands attached there.  Operation Ride Home is open active duty E-4 and below, both single and married.

The Whidbey Island Washington Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home Program.  The Whidbey Island WA ASYMCA serves the following military installation NAS Whidbey Island WA and all the tenant commands attached there.  Operation Ride Home is open active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the NAS Whidbey Island, Commander Electronic Wing Pacific, and Commander Patrol Wing Ten CMDCM Chiefs.  To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact;

NAS Whidbey CMDCM Gino Wolfe,  gino.wolfe@navy.mil (360) 257-6262

Commander Patrol Wing Ten CMDCM Maurace Clark, Maurace.Clark@navy.mil (360) 257-0353

Commander Electronic Wing Pacific CMDCM Daniel Sligh, Sligh@navy.mil  (360) 257-6624

Depending on which major command your command is attached to.

8.        Camp Pendleton, CA

The Camp Pendleton Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The branch serves military families at Camp Pendleton, California and the surrounding communities.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program.  Applications for consideration are available at the branch office, Bldg 16144 on Camp Pendleton from 9 AM to 2 PM.  Only Camp Pendleton application forms will be accepted.

9.        El Paso, TX

The El Paso, Texas Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The El Paso ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range, and Holloman AFB.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the unit chaplain’s office or the Junior Enlisted Family Center on Fort Bliss. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Nina Carey at (915) 564-0009 or email asymcajefc@elp.rr.com or pick up at the El Paso Armed Services YMCA, 7060 Comington St, El Paso,  TX.

10.      Altus, OK

The Altus Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Altus ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru their First Sergeant.  To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact your First Sergeant or email Joan Wilcoxen at wilcoxens@sbcglobal.net or pick up at the Airman and Family Readiness office in Building 52, AAFB.

11.      Fort Sill, OK

The Armed Services YMCA of Lawton Fort Sill is honored to be partnering with Jack Daniels for their Operation Ride Home program. Operation Ride Home provides financial assistance to military E4 and below assigned to Fort Sill, single or married, so they and their family may go home for the holidays. Travel distance to home must be over 350 miles from Fort Sill. Military E4 and below or their spousal members may apply for this program through Lawton Fort Sill ASYMCA, one application per family please. Application forms may be picked up at the ASYMCA 201 SW 4th Street Lawton, OK or by emailing Bill Vaughan at bvasymca@sbcglobal.net.

12.        Fort Riley, KS

The Junction City Family YMCA| ASYMCA, an affiliate partner Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA, is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Junction City Family YMCA|ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Riley, KS.  To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Ted Hayden or Amber Stanley at 785-762-4780 or email_jcymca@1703.kscoxmail.com.  We are working to implement this program with the various schools, the site will be updated when approved.

13.      Fort Stewart, GA

The Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA, Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Liberty County/ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the Liberty County/ Armed Services YMCA. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Donna Waite at (912) 368-9622 (114) or  email donna.waite@ymcaofcoastalga.org  or pick up at the Liberty County/Armed Services YMCA at 201 Mary Lou Drive, Hinesville, GA 31313.

14.      Twentynine Palms, CA

The Twentynine Palms  Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Twentynine Palms  ASYMCA serves the following military installations:  Marine Base Twentynine Palms CA .  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru the ASYMCA. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Sadie Fisher at 760-830-7481 or events.asymca@cd.twcbc.com   or pick up at Bldg 192 Mineral and DelValle.

15.  Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, NORAD, US Air Force Academy and Schriver Air Force Base

The Southeast Family Center & Armed Services YMCA Branch of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA is honored to be selected as a participating partner of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. The Southeast Family Center & ASYMCA serves the following military installations: Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, NORAD, Schriever Air Force Base and the United States Air Force Academy.  Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E-4 and below, both single and married, and they may apply for this program thru Army Community Services on Fort Carson. To request the form (one per family) for consideration please contact Army Community Services at (719) 526-8747.

Section B: Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Who qualifies for Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home with the Armed Services YMCA?

A: This program is for junior enlisted service members who might not otherwise be able travel home for the Holidays. The program is open to single and married E-4 and below active duty members and their immediate family members.

Q: What Armed Services YMCA locations and/or Military Installations will be part of the program?

A: Please see Section A for eligibility and participating military locations.

Q: My installation is on that list and I am E-4 or below, so I qualify! Who do I contact to sign up?

A: Please see Section A for the appropriate contact information. Jack Daniel’s and the Armed Services YMCA will not be nominating, selecting or choosing who will participate. Jack Daniel’s, its Distributors and the general public are funding the travel and the Armed Services YMCA is using their staff and volunteers to book the travel.  Our Military partners will prioritize the need.

Q: I am not on the list, how come my military installation or Armed Services YMCA location is not included by this opportunity?

A: This program is funded by the generous contributions of Jack Daniel’s, Jack Daniel’s Distributors and the general public along with support from the Armed Services YMCA.  As you can imagine, booking travel for hundreds of military families when hundreds of thousands would like the opportunity, we appreciate that our military families understand that it is a very time consuming, expensive and labor intensive program to be able to implement in addition to our other Holiday programs. We appreciate our participant’s attitude of gratitude and the recognition while we would like to be able to support every military member and their family, funding and other factors have to be considered. We hope to continue to grow the program in future years.

Q: Who qualifies for flights and who qualifies for driving assistance?

A:  In general, Military families must travel at least 350 miles from their installation location to qualify for travel assistance.  The option to drive or fly is based on individual circumstances.

Q: Will you be distributing cash as part of this program?

A: No, the ASYMCA will be booking flights and travel directly with the family to ensure the proper use of donated funds.

Q: Can I call or email to ask questions?

A: Due to our small non-profit staffs at the ASYMCA who are trying to run other no-cost holiday programs for military families, calls or emails  about Operation Ride Home cannot be returned, but all information will be available online. You will find answers, dates and contact info for all participating locations on www.asymca.org and in this FAQ.  Please do not call or email POCs multiple times without giving them time to get back to you since this program will be in high demand.

Q: What if I have Feedback or comments on the program?

A: We welcome feedback and comments in line with our YMCA core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility.   Feel free to share your comments with us so we can continue to evolve the program via email to feedback@asymca.org.  Please respect the donors and volunteers who are giving their time and funds, and do not post negative comments publicly or on social media. Comments that reflect poorly on the donor, sponsors, or military in general will be erased and the user might be blocked from future ASYMCA programs and events. Donations are always appreciated, not expected.

Q: How do I qualify for the program?

A: If you meet the eligibility criteria listed in Section A, you may contact the military leadership POC for an application. Applications will be prioritized based on need. This is also an ongoing fundraiser thru December, so if we receive additional donations, we will verify, notify and book travel for those military families before the deadline. Families will be notified as additional donations become available, but no later than December 4^th, 2012 for flights, or December 11^th for travel vouchers for drivers.

IMPORTANT DATES:

FLY: Last Program Day to Book Flights: December 4th

DRIVE: Last Day to issue travel vouchers for those traveling by car- December 11th.

Q: Is there pay grade restrictions?

A: Yes, E-4 and below.

Q: If I qualify for the program and fill out an application, am I guaranteed free travel home for the holidays?

A: No, based on the amount of applicants, and the requests for flights versus driving travel requests, applications will be prioritized based on need determined by Military Leadership. But all applicant families will know no later than December 4^th for flights, and December 11^th for car travel.

Q: How come this program is only at certain locations?

A: This program is funded by the generous contributions of Jack Daniel’s, Jack Daniel’s Distributors and the general public along with support from the Armed Services YMCA.  As you can imagine, booking travel for hundreds of military families when hundreds of thousands would like the opportunity, we appreciate that our military families understand that it is a very time consuming, expensive and labor intensive program to be able to implement in addition to our other Holiday programs. We appreciate our participant’s attitude of gratitude and the recognition while we would like to be able to support every military member and their family, funding and other factors have to be considered. We hope to continue to grow the program in future years.

Q: Why is Alaska and Hawaii not included?

A: Due to the cost of flights associated with Alaska and Hawaii, we are unable to serve those locations in the first round of funding. Should additional donations become available, we will try to work with our ASYMCA locations there to serve those with the greatest need.

Q: Do you provide flights for family members to visit service members?

A: Due to limited funding, we cannot.

Q: My spouse is deployed, and I qualify at an existing location, can I still utilize the program?

A: Yes, please contact the appropriate POC listed in Section A to request a form.

Q: What if I cannot make it to a branch in person to sign up for travel?

A: The form must be dropped off in person with military/dependent ID to the POC listed in Section A.  The POC will then prioritize the applications based on need. The Armed Services YMCA and Jack Daniel’s will not decide the greatest need.  Forms cannot be dropped off directly to the ASYMCA location, but be vetted and approved in person, along with follow up instructions with the POC listed. Prioritized applications will be given directly to the ASYMCA from their military partner for implementation. The ASYMCA will call or contact applicants to come into a branch to book flights or travel on a rotating basis as funding becomes available. Both the sign up and travel booking have to be done in person by the qualifying service member and/or spouse.

Q: How can I help a service member?

A: You can donate to the program and help more families at this link:

www.jdoperationridehome.com

A special thank you to Jack Daniel’s, their business partners, the general public, our military partners and Armed Services YMCA staff and volunteers for this amazing group effort!