Deployment program provides lessons for children Published Sept. 25, 2006 By Brandice J. Armstrong 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- On its fourth anniversary, the Family Support Center's Kids Understanding Deployment Operations program attracted nearly 150 children of Tinker Air Force Base military personnel Sept. 16.Ranging in age from less than 1-year-old to 15, children and their parents experienced a faux deployment line and were "deployed" to Camp Courage via an E-3 Sentry provided by the 552nd Air Control Wing. "It's a really good opportunity for the kids to see what their parents do when they get deployed, I wish they had this when I was young," said Operation KUDOS volunteer 1st Lt. Kisha Culver of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron. "It's a good cause. If I had kids, I would want them to experience this." After an initial briefing about safety and the day's schedule of events, Jackie Green III, 7, son of Chief Master Sgt. Jackie Green II of the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, asked "Will we be getting shots today?" After confirming his "no," the group proceeded to the mobility line where they received a placebo in the form of Smoothie Mix and original Skittles in lieu of immunizations. The deploying kids also received mobility bags, which resembled white pillow cases, soft plastic dog tags, a Ty punkies beanie baby named Twizzles the bear, a water bottle and Kudos candy bar. From the mobility line, the "deploying" kids and their parents boarded a bus that took them to a parked E-3 on the tarmac. They boarded and toured all aspects of the aircraft from cockpit to tail and were able to ask Airmen aboard about the aircraft's various instruments and functions. Upon exiting the stationary plane, the children and parents followed a path lined with orange cones to Camp Courage, at a 552nd Air Control Wing hangar. At Camp Courage, there were several static displays including a table with full-size rubber weapons, another with communications equipment, a Drug Abuse Resistance Education exhibit where someone dressed as McGruff the Crime Dog greeted the kids, and a 72nd Security Forces Squadron mule that blared Top 40 music and flashed red, white and blue lights. Kids could also dress in full chemical gear or eat in a faux dining hall where the servers offered cake, apple sauce, pudding and a cold drink. The final station before the exit offered vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream donated by Braum's and scooped by the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Inc. Alumni Association. Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Howell, Operation KUDOS organizer, said about 90 percent of the children's parents who attended will face a deployment. The Lewis family is among those living with deployment now. A week ago, Marie Lewis and her two daughters Kelly, 8, and Lauren, 5, brought their father Staff Sgt. Lawrence Lewis of the 33rd Combat Communications Squadron to a bus on base for deployment. The bus escorted the squadron to the tarmac just as the Lewis girls' had done at Operation KUDOS. "The last deployment was about two years ago," Mrs. Lewis said. "Kelly knew what was going on but was uncertain. Now that she's older, she's more aware and it's more stressful. She knows her father is in Iraq and it's dangerous. "Operation KUDOS has been very effective," Mrs. Lewis said. "It's helped the girls." Sgt. Howell agreed. "Operation KUDOS gives parents the opportunity to talk about an upcoming deployment and gives children a frame of reference," she said.