Edwards children take trip to 'sandbox' with KUDOS

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mike Young
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With more and more Airmen deploying from Edwards, another mock deployment arrived for Edwards' youth as they participated in "Operation KUDOS," at the Oasis Community Center here Saturday. 

Operation KUDOS, or Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, educates youth on what their parents experience while deployed. 

"By educating our children, we are helping them become a more balanced individual," said Tech. Sgt. David Ah Sing, Airman and Family Readiness Center noncommissioned officer in charge. "It helps the child better understand why their parents are deployed and the locations they are sent to." 

The day kicked off with the children filing through the deployment line. They received multi-colored jelly beans, which represented their vaccinations, and dog tags engraved with "Operation KUDOS." The children also received camouflage paint on their faces in preparation for their deployment to Camp Corum. 

"KUDOS is designed to show the whole deployment process to the children," Sergeant Ah Sing said. 

After going through the deployment line, the young deployers received various briefings about what to expect down range then boarded a bus destined for Camp Corum.

Camp Corum is located on base and simulates a deployed environment for training and exercises. 

"This is a great time," said Chris Marble, AFRC section chief. "We always get positive feedback from the children and their parents." 

While deployed, volunteers from the 95th Security Forces Squadron, 95th Medical Group and the fire department met the children at the Camp. The medical group gave presentations including self aid buddy care. 

The children also learned how to prepare "Meals Ready to Eat," which is one of the main food supplies for deployers. 

After learning how to prepare the meals, the children tasted the MREs. 

"It is important that children understand the vital mission performed by their parents," Mr. Marble said. "This reduces anxieties concerning deployment and builds more resilient families." 

The 95th SFS also displayed different weapons used in combat. Meanwhile, the fire department exhibited their equipment and demonstrated some of the methods they use while deployed. 

After being "deployed," the children returned to a welcoming party, complete with a banner, balloons and lunch. 

"We are really trying to reach out to the community," Sergeant Ah Sing said. "I feel by hosting Operation KUDOS, we are doing ourselves a huge favor."