News

KUDOS teaches children about deployment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jared Duhon
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Gearing up for deployment is a scary uncertain time, where a lot is going on. Training and other appointments take up most of your time. With so much going on, it is difficult to find time to explain a complex concept, such as deployments, to your children.

The 12th annual Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, which took place Aug. 3, 2017, at the Youth Center here, was created to give children a better understanding of what their parents go through during all phases of military deployments. More than 250 children attended to learn about deployments.

“This event is extremely important,” said Master Sgt. Jason McNabb, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight superintendent. “Every one of the children have parents who have deployed or will deploy in a very near future, and this event really helps them understand what we go through over the course of our preparation.”

This year’s event is slightly different because of the open house. Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations was not included like years before. The event would have been canceled, but due to its importance, it would still provide an important experience for military dependents.

“The program is put together so the children understand deployment, because a lot of them are afraid of them and they do not understand what deployments involve,” said Roxanne Lee, Dover AFB Youth Center director. “This is a way for families, not just children, to come out and see what everyone goes through. It is meant to be a fun event, not a scary event.”

Lt. Col. Arnold Mosley, 436th Force Support Squadron commander, gave mission briefs for chalks on what and why they were preparing for their deployments. He wished they had this when his children were growing up.

“When my children were younger this event would have been great for them to have gone to,” said Mosley. “It would have helped them have a better understanding of what their parents did for deployments.”

The event was supported by volunteers from many agencies, including intel, public health and the logistics readiness squadron. Many of the same agencies would likely aid in a service member’s deploying.

“We have about eight or nine different units volunteer to help,” said McNabb. “Everybody who has a stake in someone deploying, help put the event on.”