Kids report for duty

  • Published
  • By Airman Grace Nichols
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The Airman & Family Readiness Center hosts its fifth annual Kids Understanding Deployment Operations event April 9, 2016, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m at Hangar 233, on Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.  The event consists of multiple demonstrations showing children parts of the deployment operation.

"Kids Understanding Deployment Operations is a fun, interactive base-wide initiative designed to help military children better understand the role their military parents play during deployment operations," said Wayne Ojala, Airman & Family Readiness Center Community Readiness consultant.

The goal of KUDOS is to help children better understand the deployment process. The event aims at lessening anxiety children may experience during a parent's deployment. 

"When children better understand why their parents have to deploy, it can reduce stress put on families before, during and after deployment operations," Ojala said. "KUDOS can be a force multiplier when military members are less worried about their loved ones and more focused on their mission."

The event is scheduled to demonstrate activities that security forces, fire department, and personalists perform. Children will also have the opportunity to experience various components of a personnel deployment line in a kid-friendly way.

"A military child faces challenges that are unique -- whether it's a parent deploying, frequent moves and changing schools or adapting to a new community -- and not just once, but many times," said Sharon Thompson, Airman & Family Readiness Center chief. "KUDOS allows children to understand deployment in a kid-friendly manner."

KUDOS "deployers" will be issued mock deployment orders, dog tags and backpacks.  Children will complete a deployment out-processing checklist during the event.

Activities will include a Nerf shooting range, mobility gear familiarization, static displays and demonstrations.  No advance registration required for the event and includes a free pizza lunch.

For more information, call (501) 987-2667.