What is Beyond the Yellow Ribbon?

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a comprehensive program that creates awareness for the purpose of connecting Servicemembers and their families with community support, training, services and resources.

We do this by:
1. Creating awareness through the Yellow Ribbon Community Campaign and synchronizing sustainable community support networks.
2. Connecting and coordinating organizations, agencies, and companies to provide resources and support to Servicemembers and their families.
3. Delivering a series of formal Yellow Ribbon Training events to Servicemembers and their families before, during and after deployment.
4. Providing an opportunity for Minnesotans to support Servicemembers and their families.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is united to bring Servicemembers all the way home.

To learn more about Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, download the brochure, watch the documentary and view the quotes below:

Deployment Cycle Support Brochure

Deployment Cycle Support Documentary

This 20-minute (two part) documentary looks at the elements within Minnesota's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Deployment Cycle Support Team. This video features testimonies from three Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and their families about the reintegration process that they personally experienced.

DCS Documentary Part 1

DCS Documentary Part 2

A Comprehensive approach

"As we rank all of the things that we want to have as priorities in Minnesota, the first one should be taking care of our members of the military and the people who protect our safety and security. They give so much for us, we need to make sure that we match that commitment in our words and our deeds.” - former Gov. Tim Pawlenty

The Minnesota National Guard has pioneered a comprehensive approach to providing services, training and resources to Servicemembers and their families throughout the deployment cycle. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon training is open to all branches of the military. Even its name, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, is a reminder that the supporting military Servicemembers cannot end when they return home from deployment and the yellow ribbons are untied; but continues throughout the process of reintegration.

Envisioned by retired Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito’s personal experience of reintegration after the Vietnam war, the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon umbrella features several programs. From reintegration events and wellness programs for Servicemembers and their families to creating Yellow Ribbon Cities, Deployment Cycle Support in Cottage Grove is the headquarters for all Beyond the Yellow Ribbon programs.

"This is not a program, it is process. And it’s not the military’s process alone. It takes all the resources of the local, county, state and federal government, along with every nonprofit organization that’s willing to help.” - Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris

When Servicemembers deploy, their families, employers and communities are all affected in many ways. Minnesota’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon guides all those affected through developing their own readiness action plans.

“We get there by building the team. By, what we call in Minnesota, building Fort Minnesota. And Building Fort Minnesota is a concept where we harness the goodwill and we harness the partnerships of communities and the agencies within those communities to reach out and touch Servicemembers and families”. - Brig. Gen. Kevin Gerdes, 34th Infantry Division Deputy Commander