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NEWS | July 12, 2016

The 4th Space Company out of Colorado Springs, attends initial Yellow Ribbon

By Maj. Michael Garcia 76th U.S. Army Reserve Operational Response Command

SCHAUMBURG, Illinois – The 4th Space Company, 76th Operational Response Command, based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, attended their initial Yellow Ribbon event with their families in Schaumburg, Illinois, June 17-19, 2016.


“Make sure when you’re going to a deployment, thank your employer for their support.  The law said they have to hold your job for you, but it’s important when you return to recognize them,” said Maj. Gen. Patrick Reinert, 88th Regional Support Command, Commanding General.  “During your pre-deployment, make sure you develop a really strong engagement plan with your family.”

One of the speaker, Stedman Graham, provided a motivational speech for all the Yellow Ribbon Participants.  Graham is a man of many titles.  He is a chairman and chief executive officer of his own company, he is a professor, he is an author with 11 books published with two best sellers, he is a great speaker, and most importantly; a Soldier.  

He is a Soldier for life.  “Pleasure to be here.  We appreciate your leadership because we know how important leadership is and leadership is everything I certainly would not be standing in front of you speaking without having the experience of being a Soldier,” said Graham.  

Graham served in the U.S. Army for several years, and it’s been a long journey he said.  He stated that he’s learned a lot and that he loved the opportunity to be able to transition from a military to civilian world.  “You cannot lead anybody else until you can first lead yourself.”  

He said the challenge is that most people cannot lead themselves, and because they cannot lead themselves, they have to have someone tell them what to do when, all of the time because they cannot think for themselves.  

“So when you don’t think for yourself, you’re waiting for somebody else to tell you what to do, you become a follower as opposed to a leader.  There’s seven billion people in the world, I would say that 6.99999 billion people in the world are followers,” he said.

"I’m looking forward for this deployment.  I was scheduled to deploy with another unit three years ago, but they cut the force and no officers went, so I was really disappointed,” said 1st Lt. Derek Nichols, 4th Space Company executive officer.  

This will be Nichols’ first deployment.  Their mission will be to provide quality assurance for satellite communications for roughly a year.  

While deployed, he “encourage Soldiers to continue higher education whether it be online classes,” he said.  “The commander put out and said if you go over there and play video games, and basically waste your time, you’re not making a valuable effort to further grow your profession.” 

The Yellow Ribbon Program is designed to prepare Soldiers and families for deployment, helping families during deployment, and reintegrating Soldiers into society, into their family upon returning home.  

During the event, the Soldiers and family members were provided with sufficient information, services and other benefits such as Family Programs, Education Resource Information, chaplain advice, Tricare Programs, USAA banking, Veterans Administration benefits, Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR), and more.