Operation KIDS teaches children about deployment Published June 18, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The call goes out at 6:30 a.m. Sheppard's newest expeditionary "Airmen" are needed to defend their country. Their destination - a forward operating location named Camp Liberty. Their mission is to learn about deployment, and, more importantly, have fun. The young men and women aren't your average Airmen though. In fact, not one of them is old enough to vote and only a handful have finished their elementary school "training." They are the children participating in this year's Operation Kids Investigating Deployment Services. The mission of Operation KIDS is "to show the kids what their parents go through," said Tech. Sgt. Erich Lofton, Airman and Family Readiness Flight NCO. "We want to let them know mommy and daddy might leave, but they're going to come home." To facilitate that goal, the kids involved started out their day with a 6:30 a.m. wake-up call, letting them know they had been recalled for duty. From there they went through the deployment line. They received their orders, which outlined their duties for the day; initial payment, which was colorful play money; identification, or dog tags, which read "proud military kid;" treats from the chapel; and medical supplies, consisting of dental care products. After the line, their next stop was an out-briefing by their installation commander, Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, 82nd Training Wing commander. "We need you to deploy," he said. "Does anyone know why you have to go on this deployment," he asked the assembled children. One boy chimed in, "to save the country!" "That's right," General Devereaux said. "We need you to defend our freedom. I really appreciate what you are going to do when you deploy." The general closed out his briefing by letting the kids know that while they were gone, Team Sheppard would be looking out for them. "While you're gone, we're going to take care of your family," he said. "So you don't have to worry about anything back home." This is a lesson that, for girls and boys who might one day be that family back home, must be very reassuring. Upon arriving at Camp Liberty the first group of kids, led by chalk one commander, seven-year-old Garret Brown, son of Master Sgt. Michael Brown, Airman and Family Readiness Flight and Stephanie Brown, 82nd Mission Support Squadron, led the way. Soon they met their deployed commander Col. Jeffrey Kendall, 80th Flying Training Wing commander. Colonel Kendall laid out Camp Liberty's rules for the newly-arrived Airmen. The rules were to stay hydrated, don't play with the critters, avoid the mud puddles and stay away from the off-limits areas; rules every deployed Airman can associate with. After their briefing, the young deployers and their parents had free reign to explore the numerous sites at Camp Liberty. With a fake crime scene, courtesy of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, a self-aid buddy care demonstration, fire trucks, construction equipment, weapons displays and face painting, there were plenty of options. Lauren Roberts, daughter of Master Sgt. William Carter, 382nd Training Squadron, had her favorites. "I liked (it) when we got to go in the OSI," she said. Her mother added that Lauren enjoyed it so much, particularly the night-vision equipment - they went twice. Lauren wasn't upset by the faux crime scene, as she said, they were "just pretending." The OSI area was apparently a fan-favorite as Sylvia Gwodz, daughter of Master Sgt. Mike Gwodz, 363rd TRS, also enjoyed it. She liked it "because of the science (involved)." Sergeant Gwodz said he brought his daughters in case he one day has to deploy. He said that with things going the way they are in the world today, he wanted them to get a feel for what their dad might have to do. After their long day, the children were welcomed home by a crowd of flag-waving and cheering well wishers, and some hard-earned cake. Sgt. Lofton said Operation KIDS went very well, attributing its success to the coordination of everyone involved and the volunteers who came out and made it happen. For information on services for families with deployed members, call the Airman and Family Readiness Flight at 676-4275.