Operation Ride Home

Holiday Travel Assistance for Military Families

Military families are frequently stationed far apart from their loved ones, which can take a toll on their sense of connection and stability, especially during the holidays. That’s why it’s so important to bring military families home — to celebrate, reconnect, and rejuvenate. Our military families deserve this time together.

The ASYMCA is proud to partner with Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home to help junior enlisted military families travel home for the holidays. Offering free flights home for military members (E1-E5) and their immediate family (by subsidizing tickets up to $500) or providing prepaid gift cards for vehicle travel, the ASYMCA and Jack Daniels are committed to making this travel possible for those most in need.

Generous annual donations from Jack Daniel’s and the general public fund this program. Donate or fundraise now to make the holidays brighter for a military family this year!

 

MAKE A GIFT OR FUNDRAISE

Helping Our Heroes Make It Home

During the holidays, many enlisted military members have the opportunity, but not the financial means, to travel home. Operation Ride Home removes that burden and helps these heroes make it home.
Since its beginning in 2011, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA have assisted over 10,000 individual junior-enlisted service members and their families. Servicemen and women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard have been assisted with travel to all 50 states.

Official Partner of Operation Ride Home

Since Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home program began in 2011, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA have helped 10,713 individual junior-enlisted service members, spouses and their children travel home for the holidays.

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About Operation Ride Home

Reconnecting military families during the holidays is one small way Operation Ride Home is strengthening military families. Operation Ride Home is open to active duty E1-E5 personnel, both single and married, who might not otherwise financially be able to travel home. The ASYMCA works with the various military commands in areas co-located with our 12 Branches to identify and prioritize junior-enlisted service members and families most in financial need. Subsidized plane tickets and prepaid debit cards for road travel help to offset travel expenses.

  • 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 an 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.
  • The application period for Operation Ride Home is based on the ASYMCA Branch application window. Please view the Application page for specific dates.
  • Travel dates may be between November 1 – January 31.

Applicant Information

Find more information about the ASYMCA Operation Ride Home application process, including deadlines and application links for each ASYMCA Branch.

Find Your Ride Home

Official Partner of Operation Ride Home

American Airlines is proud to be the official airline of Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home, helping to bring military families fly home and reconnect them with their loved ones over the holidays.

Support the Importance of Home

Each year, the number of military families desperate to get home for the holidays exceeds the funding available to send them all. You can close this gap and help ensure no military family is left behind during the holidays.

Make a Gift or Fundraise