News

Kids, Teachers learn Deployment Ops

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matt Davis
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Military life can be difficult at times, especially when family members deploy for long periods of time. It can also be a challenge to find a way to explain the deployment process to younger loved ones and educators. Like many other bases, Team Dover hosts an annual event to educate military children and their teachers. At Dover AFB, this event is called Kids/Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations.

The event is designed to simulate processing for an overseas deployment while also showcasing several Air Force career fields and how they contribute overall to Dover AFB. The main objective of KUDOS/TUDOS is for school-age children and teachers to experience what Airmen go through to get ready for supporting a deployment.

“The main purpose for KUDOS/TUDOS is so that kids and teachers get to experience what the military member goes through when getting ready to deploy,” said Master Sgt. Latasha Lindsey, 436th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of the Airman and Family Readiness Center. “A lot of times they have a conversation with their parents and they know mom or dad is leaving for a few months, but they don’t get to see the training or the briefings that take place.”

By sharing the knowledge with dependents and teachers, it can strengthen the quality of support needed for a deployed member’s family.

“In regards to the educators, it's good for them to know that they might have a student in their class whose parents are deployed,” said Lindsey. “It also gives them a sight picture of the emotional phases of a deployment and how it affects their students.”

For eight hours, approximately 144 participants processed through a deployment line in an effort to give a step-by-step representation of what military members have to do.

The children and teachers also got to experience things like military working dog demonstrations, an obstacle course and a C-17 Globemaster III static display. Attendees could also have their faces painted and get “battle ready” for the simulated deployment.

The USO welcomed the young returning deployers in a similar style to what a military member would receive when returning home from a real-life deployment.

Once KUDOS/TUDOS was finished, everyone left with a new understanding of what military families go through when they serve together.