Children deploy during Operation KIDS

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  More than 100 of Team Sheppard's bravest children participated in a special deployment during the annual event, Operation KIDS, April 10.

Operation KIDS is a day devoted to the children of military families to explore and acquire an understanding the processes before, during and after military deployments.

The children began the deployment experience with a pre-deployment brief from Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander, where he explained the events and activities of the day.

Following the brief, the kids were directed to a C-130 trainer aircraft, piloted by Lt. Col. Dave Leazer, 89th Flying Training Squadron operations officer, and transported to Base "X."

As the children were leaving the plane, they were able to get a firsthand look at the cockpit of the aircraft. Colonel Leazer answered the children's questions as they sat in the co-pilot seat. He said they had a lot of questions about operating the plane, the controls and buttons.

"The kids had a lot of great questions, and many of them compared flying to driving a car," said the colonel. "Some kids even asked how you know if you are getting shot at and what you do when that happens. It was great getting to show the kids what pilots do and to show them how we support their families and keep them safe during the flight."

"My favorite part was that I got to fly the plane," said 5-year-old Lane Wirth.

After the children arrived to Base "X," they participated in activities and learned from displays provided by different units such as the 82nd Security Forces Squadron, 82nd Medical Group and the Office of Special Investigations.

Tamon Manzel, 9, said he liked all of the demonstrations and related the experience to his cousin, who is about to deploy.

"My cousin is about to go on his fourth deployment, and I think that this looks a lot like what my cousin might be going through," he said.

The Army combative program demonstration was a favorite for 3-year-old Lilian Kaylor.

"The punching part was my favorite," she said.

As the children finished seeing medical demonstrations, using the loud speakers on the police cars, learning to defend themselves and experimenting with other tools their parents might use on a deployment, they headed back to Sheppard for a welcome home reunion.

When they entered the homecoming hangar, the children enjoyed refreshments and were coined by General Mannon.

"I want to thank you all for your exceptional work today," the general said. "You all did a great job."

Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Sallinger, 82nd TRW command chief, said Operation KIDS gives children a better understanding of what deployments really are. He said this type of experience is especially important now that we are in time of war.

"Kids see war on TV and in the movies and I think this type of experience helps take away from that 'unknown' fear," the chief said.

Tech Sgt. Robert Wirth, 982nd Training Group scheduler, said as soon as he found out about Operation KIDS he signed up all four of his children.

"I love what Operation KIDS is all about," the sergeant said. "It is really a great idea and an awesome experience for my kids."

Stephenie Wirth, 14, said the event helped her understand more about the deployment process.

"I have been traveling with my parents for years, and I think that I understand it a lot better now," she said. "This is a really great experience."