teen daughter hugs her father who is in military uniform

Operation Ride Home

Currently Closed for 2023/2024 Season

Holiday Travel Assistance for Military Families

The Jack Daniels Operation Ride Home program helps bring military families together for the holidays. Operation Ride Home subsidizes the travel costs for eligible service members and their dependents to return home to spend time with their families during the holidays.

TRAVEL DATES MAY BE BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1 – JANUARY 31

Family reunification is a key component for a strong, healthy and resilient military families and the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads is key to making this happen.

 

A COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM AND SIGNED COMMAND APPROVAL FORM ARE NECESSARY FOR YOUR APPLICATION

Program Overview

  • Travel assistance of up to $500 per airline ticket or a $125 prepaid gift card for vehicle travel per eligible family member.
  • Service members or military spouses must submit a completed application and a signed Command Approval Form.
  • Travel destinations must originate in the U.S. and be at least 350 miles from the service member’s duty station.
  • E1-E5 Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve military personnel, their spouse/partner and dependent children ages 0-18.
  • Spouse and children must travel with their service member unless he/she is deployed at the time of travel.
  • Other relatives, including parents, grandparents and siblings, are not eligible to receive assistance.
  • Travel dates may be between November 1 – January 31.
  • Application Period opens September 11, 2023

 

  • Joint Base Fort Eustis/Langely
  • JEB Little Creek and Fort Story
  • Norfolk Naval Base
  • Oceana Naval Air Station
  • Norfolk Naval Air Station
  • Naval Station Annex Norfolk
  • Naval Station Annex Dam Neck
  • Naval Station Annex Northwest Landing
  • Norfolk Naval Shipyard
  • US Coast Guard Station Portsmouth
  • US Coast Guard Station Yorktown
  • Yorktown Naval Weapons Station
  • Joint Staff Suffolk
  • Portsmouth Naval Hospital
  • Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City
  • Any installation local to Hampton Roads, Virginia