WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Children of Wright-Patt Airmen participated in Operation KUDOS on July 28, a fun-filled way for them to understand why deployments are important and answer any questions that may come along during the process.
The Kids Understanding Deployment Operations event hosted 40 families with 80 kids, ranging from ages 4 to 13, who proceeded through different deployment stations such as a mock fitness test and obstacle course, fire and emergency services, security forces, medical and the explosive ordnance disposal team. They also got a chance to tour a C-17 Globemaster III from the 445th Airlift Wing.
Col. Travis Pond, 88th Air Base Wing deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Bruce Reno, 88th Medical Group senior enlisted leader, addressed the families and provided participating children their pre-deployment instructions and briefing.
“You all are serving just like your mom and dad,” Pond said. “Today, we hope to show you a little bit of what your parents are doing while they’re not here with you. Thank you for your strength and your resilience, thank you for your service, and thank you for giving your parents the courage and the energy to do what they do every day to support and defend our country.”
Added Reno: “This is an opportunity for all of the kids that have questions about mom and dad’s job, and about what they are going to do when we deploy. Find out everything that you can learn about what we do and have fun doing it.”
Not only was this an opportunity for the children to experience what their parents go through during deployment, but also a chance for parents to have another method of communication to explain their jobs to them.
“Having my kids here at Operation KUDOS for the first time has given them a little insight into what we do here at Wright-Patt,” said Staff Sgt. Rose Martinez of the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Training Squadron. “Being here really gives me more love and appreciation for the Air Force because my kids get to experience what my job entails. My oldest is already talking about joining the military so I’m grateful that he gets to experience a little of what he might also be doing in the future.”
Pond said children are an integral part of military families and give Airmen the strength, courage, love and support to continue to defend this nation.
“Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is incredibly grateful for their unwavering commitment to the country and are thankful that we can show our appreciation through Operation KUDOS,” he said.