KUDOS, SUDOS, TUDOS explains deployment process

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Woolridge
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted a revised "Kids, Spouses and Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations" event at the deployment center and the Pride Hangar, Sept. 29.

"Today was all about getting families and some of our local teachers onto base and showing them what our deployment operations are like, and what our squadrons and agencies have to offer," said Master Sgt. Jennifer Plascencia, 28th FSS AFRC NCO in charge.

More than 45 kids, spouses and teachers registered for the day's activities that included processing through the deployment center's personnel deployment function line, and an up close look at a B-1 bomber - all of which were designed to give civilians and family members the chance to walk a mile in the shoes of Airmen who have deployed.

Building on feedback from previous KUDOS, SUDOS, TUDOS events, Saturday's edition incorporated new demonstrations, and the new deployment center's PDF line facility, which made this day one to remember.

Kathy Harn, Rapid City area school counselor, participated in "KUDOS, SUDOS, TUDOS" along with her two children, 9-year-old Dawson and 7-year-old Kaylee Hoffman.

"Being an American citizen, I'm interested in the military aspect of things," Harn said, adding that she has a cousin who is currently deployed to Southwest Asia. "The sharing of information has been my favorite part, so far."

Although deployment operations were an important focus for the day, educational interaction and demonstrations from a variety of squadrons on base were also on the agenda.

"Over at the Pride Hangar was more of a fun area," said Plascencia. "Entymology brought some snakes over and comm (28th Communications Squadron) also came out for the first time this year to show people how to build cables and take apart computers."

Plascencia said she thinks teachers especially benefit from the event, due to the high amount of interaction they have with military children. "The big thing was trying to get teachers out here who don't know anything about the military or deployment operations and educate them on what the kids are going through as their parents are deploying," she said. "A lot of times there are behavioral issues, and they turn up at school because that's where the kids spend the majority of their day."

After visiting the numerous booths, displays and demonstrations at the Pride Hangar provided by the 28th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section and the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal robot demonstrations, Harn said she thought the day was a success.

"It's fun to watch the kids' reactions," Harn added. "I appreciate the opportunity."

With so much planning and organization involved, Plascencia said she thinks the next KUDOS, SUDOS, TUDOS may be conducted in April of 2014 - adding that she is thankful for the help of everyone who was a part of the day's festivities.

"You can't get it all done by yourself," Plascencia said. "It's a good feeling when it all comes together in the end, and you see all of the agencies work together to make it a really fun and educational day for everyone. Whether it was getting to see a B-1 or tasting an MRE (meal ready to eat), I hope everybody had a good time and learned something cool."