Through the “Operation Ride Home” (ORH) program, the Jack Daniel Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) have announced that approximately 2,000 junior enlisted service members and their families would be traveling home for the holidays.

Jack Daniel’s is encouraging people to visit its website to donate to the cause. According to Chris Fletcher, head distiller at Jack Daniel’s, supporting these soldiers, who would otherwise lack the means to reach their loved ones, is an honor and a privilege. We hope our friends will join us in bringing as many of them home this year,”  he said.

This year’s campaign was launched with a $100,000 donation from Jack Daniel’s, bringing its total commitment to ORH to more than $1.2 million. Over the past 12 years, donations have covered travel expenses by more than $2.3 million.

Operation Ride Home program eligibility 

Operation Ride Home is a campaign bolstering military families by reuniting them over the holidays. Active-duty military members E-5 and below, whether married or single and who might not otherwise be able to afford to travel home, are eligible to participate in the program. To identify and prioritize junior enlisted service men and families in the greatest financial need, the ASYMCA will collaborate with the various military commands in the regions where its 12 Branches are situated. 

According to VADM Bill French, USN, president, and CEO of the Armed Services YMCA, going home for the holidays is a privilege many military families miss out on far too often due to the cost of travel. “The Armed Services YMCA has removed the financial barrier for junior enlisted military members and their families thanks to our fantastic relationship with Jack Daniels. This holiday season, our military members deserve to spend time with the people they cherish the most, ” he said. The cost of travel will be lower due to the use of pre-paid debit cards for road trips and discounted airline tickets. Whether to drive or fly is a personal choice.

Jack Daniel’s and ASYMCA’s partnership

The Jack Daniel’s Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA have assisted 10,713 junior enlisted service members, wives, and their children in returning home for the holidays since the program’s inception in 2011. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard serving families currently have access to travel aid to visit loved ones in all 50 states.