Step 1

DECIDE TRAVEL DATES

Your command needs to approve

travel dates before completing

the application.

DOWNLOAD THIS FORM

Fill out what you can. Give it to your command's leave approving official
to complete, sign, and date.

Scan or take a photo of the form.
Make sure the image is clear.
Upload the file during Step 3.

This form must be submitted.
We will not accept unit leave paperwork
in lieu of the attached.

COMPLETE ONLINE APPLICATION

The application must be completed in
one sitting. It should take approximately 10 minutes. You will not be able to save, walk away, and pick up where you left off.

You will need to list name, birthdate,
age, and gender of all travelers.

The Armed Services YMCA Hawaii's selection committee will review applications and

selected families will be notified by 4pm on Monday, October 24, 2022.

Questions? Scroll to the bottom of the page to review Frequently Asked Questions
or contact us during regular business hours - Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 3:30pm.

Laurie Moore, Executive Director: (808) 473-1427 or ExecutiveDirector@asymcahi.org

Keola Taniguchi, Deputy Director: (808) 473-3399 or KTaniguchi@asymcahi.org 

We received almost 500 applications and sent hundreds of military families home for the holidays in 2021.

Operation Ride Home awardees traveled all over the world to Puerto Rico, Palau, Philippines,

Tanzania, West Africa, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, and 30 states!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the service member have to be one of the travelers?
  Generally, the service member travels with their family. However, there may be instances where the service member may not be able to travel, but the family is selected for the program.
  
  
• What if the service member is deployed? Are the spouse or dependent eligible to apply?
  Yes, if the service member is deployed, the spouse and/or dependent of an active duty E-5 and below service member is eligible to participate in Operation Ride Home.
  
  
• How are participants selected?
  Participants will be prioritized and selected based on need, in coordination with their commands. While a committee will make the final determination in awarding travel, we encourage applicants to submit their applications early. In the event of a "tie", early applications will be given priority. 
  
  
• How does the process work?
  Service members, or their dependent, will apply via application. Once they have completed the application and have received their command's signature and approval, they should submit to ASYMCA. A committee will blindly review and prioritize each application. ASYMCA will notify service members awarded travel by October 24, 2022. We will then communicate via email regarding how to book travel in cooperation with ASYMCA. Service members cannot book travel on their own and be reimbursed - ASYMCA is prohibited from doing so.
  
  
• Will I be responsible for any costs?
  Service members will be responsible for any checked bag fees and should the travel costs exceed the stipend amount, the traveler(s) pay the difference. Your billing information will be collected upfront to pay for these costs.
  
  
• If I am selected to participate, what is required of me?
  If selected, and before travel is arranged, you must sign a waiver of liability. After travel has been arranged, we kindly ask that the service member/family write a thank you note so the ASYMCA and Jack Daniel's can share the importance of this program with donors. We also ask program participants to share photos and brief video as a testimonial about their experience to demonstrate Operation Ride Home's value to the military community.
  
  
• Where does Operation Ride Home funding come from?
  Operation Ride Home is funded by the generous contributions of Jack Daniel's, Jack Daniel's Distributors, American Airlines, and the general public, along with support from the Armed Services YMCA.