Mock deployment for children

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Laura R. McFarlane
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
Approximately 80 children answered the call to duty during Operation Kids Investigating Deployment Services Oct. 1.

Operation KIDS is an annual event designed to introduce military children to deployment operations that their parents may experience.

This year, the event expanded to include kids from the surrounding community who are interested in joining the military or just learning more about the military experience, according to Tech. Sgt. Nathanael L. Meagher, 17th Force Support Squadron readiness NCO.

The day included a mobility line at the Vance Deployment Center, pre-deployment training with the 17th Security Forces Squadron, a Marine obstacle course at the Camp Sentinel training village, paintball shooting and grenade throwing with the Army, and fake combat wounds for the children.

Meagher took charge of Operation KIDS about three years ago and worked to get the other services involved.

“Since a lot of our deployments nowadays are joint and we’re with the Army and Marines, it allows them to get a better understanding of the groups we work with,” said Meagher.

This also provides a multiservice experience for children looking to join a branch different than their parent. One such child is an Air Force dependent looking to join the Army.

“Well, my dad’s in the military and I’d like to be in the military when I grow up,” he said. “Army. I just like the things they do in the Army better than they do in the Air Force.”

After the field experience, the children returned to the Vance Deployment Center for inprocessing and certificates.