Naval Reserve Ombudsman shores up family support

January 10, 2002 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Do you remember where you were when the President told "all members of the military" to get ready? Many were busy managing civilian careers, children and households.

Life is changing fast for 60,000 members of the Reserve Force, who are preparing and mobilizing to help fight the war on terrorism. Their families are along for the ride.

Wives leave, husbands leave, salaries shrink and children wonder when they will see their parents again. Some things never change.

Yonna Diggs has particular expertise caring for the needs of Reservists. She knows that running a military family is demanding, full-time job.

Diggs serves as the ombudsman at-large to the Naval Reserve Force, where she helps reach out to families where they serve and live.

Current events have again pushed to the forefront, the pressing need for all families to stay connected and know where to go for assistance.

"At some point, everyone needs help finding access to health care, legal and financial counseling, and other services," Diggs said. "Your ombudsman will know just where to go."

The force ombudsman appeared on the Navy Live Naval Reserve town hall meeting that was televised from Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., during the past holiday season. Reservists, their families and friends of the Navy were invited to tune in and talk about matters most affecting the Force family.

The program was transmitted over the Dish Network home satellite system and also made available to sites with video teleconferencing equipment.

"We utilize the best technology to send our message to the ombudsman and families at large -- to keep everyone in the loop," Diggs said. "The driving force behind the town hall meeting and ombudsman video teleconferencing is the need to pull everyone together."

Diggs began her Naval Reserve career by volunteering locally with the command ombudsman program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., soon after the last of 265,000 Reserve Force service members, including her husband, returned from year-long deployments.

"We learned during the Gulf War that families need to stay connected and work together," Diggs said. "Leaders from all levels of the military and Congress now recognize the important role we all play in the defense of the nation."

"My goal is to place qualified, trained ombudsman everywhere they are needed," said Diggs. "Some Reserve families live in remote areas where assess to commissaries and other base services is limited. With your help, there is a lot more we can do provide everyone with the highest level of support throughout this mobilization and beyond."

"Reserve families have unique needs," Diggs said. "Ombudsmen are doctors, ministers and homemakers -- and the heartfelt support they provide to your families is needed more than ever."

For additional information, call commercial 1-800-675-5728 or e-mail Diggs.

For additional information on the force ombudsman program, go to this Web site and select "View Site Map" on the main page, then select "Manpower and Personnel" under "Departments" listing. From there, select "Reserve Ombudsman Online."