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DTC offers deployers decompression

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. J. LaVoie
  • Train, Advise, Assist Command - Air
Staff from the Deployment Transition Center in Ramstein Air Base, Germany, visited Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air, Feb. 5-7, to provide assistance to command personnel, as well as offer insight on what the DTC provides returning deployers.

Most Airmen assigned to TAAC-Air will spend a few days at the DTC prior to returning home. This stop provides four days of decompression with two days of curriculum, led by a career field facilitator, who has served as an advisor along with a mental health or chaplain facilitator.

“It’s natural for anyone not to want to be stopped on the way home, but once they are here, they find the program is focused on them as the individual,” said Master Sgt. Cory Hancock, DTC Program NCO in charge.

According to pre-surveys, most Airmen do not believe the program is something they need, but “as they leave, 94 percent report that it is worth their time,” said Lt. Col. Jefferson DeBerry, DTC commander. “They are glad they went through the program.”

According to their web site, the program provides an opportunity for post-deployment decompression and useful reintegration education in support of redeploying Airmen. The DTC staff provides for group and individual discussion about each Airman’s experiences and the ability to relax in a comfortable and safe location prior to returning home.

“It's all about taking care of our most important resource … our people" said Capt. Angela Petersen, DTC support flight commander. "Equipping military members with tools to reintegrate with their families and loved ones is critical to ensuring a successful homecoming.”

“From what we are told, advisors think this is the perfect capstone for what they considered a very stressful deployment,” said Hancock. “Not everyone is an air advisor; not everyone gets it. Having that time to decompress is very much appreciated.”