HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Airman and Family Readiness Center, 635th Materiel Maintenance Group and Holloman’s Youth Programs rallied for Operation Kids Investigating Deployment at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 2, 2018.
Event coordinators understand how important it is to properly train Airmen prior to deployment, and decided to take things a step further by training a younger audience.
“The goal of Operation K.I.D. is to show our military children what it’s like in a mock deployment setting,” said LaurieAnn Goodier, 49th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. “Being able to take them out here and get a little taste of that is really important.”
Volunteers accomplished this operation by placing each of the approximately 200 children into groups based on age, and then moving them around to various interactive displays. Each display was set up and manned by units from Holloman.
“The event has morphed into something bigger than it has been in previous years,” said Goodier. “We have a great relationship with Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources Base and the other supporting agencies. They always get excited to come out and do this for the kids.”
Supporting agencies were not the only ones that were thrilled to attend the event. Nine-year-old Madison Logan claimed her favorite part of the experience was winning a dance battle against Sparky the Fire Dog, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department mascot.
“I learned that the Air Force is important in defending our country," Logan said. “I think my parents will be proud of me because I learned a lot today.”
Logan’s experience fell right into the intent for Operation K.I.D., being an educative and fun mock deployment experience while supporting Holloman’s mission.
“Being young, the children can’t always picture what it’s like when their parents deploy,” Goodier said. “I think this helps alleviate some fears the children may have when their parents are deployed.”