Operation K.I.D. comes to Holloman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kasey Close
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  ATTENTION: Recalling all children, ages 5 to 13, to report to the Youth and Teen Center at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., May 13, at 0700 for Operation Kids Investigating Deployment.

Operation K.I.D. is back, giving children an inside look at what their parents go through when called to deploy. The children will experience a recall, deployment line, "Base X," and welcome home.

The day will begin with a phone call to report to the Youth and Teen Center's gym, where they will be briefed and divided into their chalks. Then they will be bussed out to Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources Base to process through the deployment line and deploy to "Bearghanistan."

"It's going be very hands-on and different squadrons are going to bring out different things for the families to experience," said 1st Lt. Kevin Evans, 49th Materiel Maintenance Group executive officer.

Once at "Bearghanistan," the children will learn what it is like when mom or dad is in a deployed environment by going to different tents and engaging with the different equipment that units will have setup.

"It's a unique way for kids to see what their parents do on deployment and how the different agencies around base work together during the deployment process," said Cheryl Horton, 49th Force Support Squadron teen program director for youth programs.

When it's time for the "deployers" to head home, they will return to the Youth and Teen Center for a welcome home reception. Members of the Key Spouses Group will be outside the center with flags and welcome home signs giving the children a feeling of what it is like to return home.

"The event is very family-oriented, so we encourage everyone to come out," said Evans.

Sign up for Operation K.I.D. by calling the Youth and Teen Center at 572-3753 or the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 572-7754 by May 3rd.