Youths experience mock deployment during Operation KIDS

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Breonna Fields
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - --  Children of service members participated in Operation Kids Investigating Deployment Services, a mock deployment, here, April 20.

Operation KIDS gave children the chance to experience deployment for a better understanding of what their parents do while deployed.

A hundred children, from ages 5 to 13, reported to building 901 to receive enlistment orders as they were issued identification cards, a uniform and a ruck sack.

They proceeded to meet with representatives of finance and medical where they received approval from finance and candy as immunizations from medical.

The new "enlistees" were then briefed by Master Sgt. Deborah J. Johnson, Airman and Family Readiness NCO-in-charge, who covered the flight plans and enemy threats they might come across.

Each group went to the Louis F. Garland Defense Department Fire Academy, where they completed an obstacle course set up by the Marine Detachment. They also learned about various fire rescue vehicles.

After leaving the high bay, the enlistees traveled to the training grounds where they received mock wounds in a tent set-up by the 17th Medical Group. The children also learned how to load a naval ship and correctly fix water pipes in a tent set-up by the Navy Center for Information Dominance Detachment.

The children then proceeded to the Army 344th Military Intelligence Battalion tent where the youth were issued silly string guns as weapons and water balloons as grenades. They were then tasked to counteract insurgents hiding in a village.

Once the enemy was defeated, the children were welcomed home by family members and other service members.

"It's a lot of fun," said Airman James Towles, 315th Training Squadron student. "It's been really exciting for me to be a part of this. I think it basically gives the kids an idea of what their parents are going through with their own deployments and it's great because it could be reassuring for children to know what their parents go through."