Kids, spouses and teachers experience deployment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  As a way of helping children, spouses and teachers of military families to gain a better understanding of the deployment process, Ellsworth Air Force Base hosted a special event in the PRIDE Hangar, April 9.

The event, called KUDOS, SUDOS and TUDOS - kids, spouses and teachers understanding deployment operations, consisted of a wide variety of activities, displays and information covering a broad scope of subjects tied to deployments.

"We put this on so that kids, spouses and teachers can see and understand what their Airmen go through when they deploy," said Tech. Sgt. Ann Mitchell, 28th Force Support Squadron event coordinator. "All of the stations here play an equal part in showing how the deployment process works. Everyone's job is important in showing how the pieces fit together into a single unit."

The event had demonstrations ranging from explosive ordnance disposal, to the fire department, readiness flight and 28th Security Forces Squadron military working dogs, as well as tables set up from organizations including the base legal office, Health and Wellness Center and Military Family Life Consultants.

"We're here today for families to see what services we offer them," said Capt. Mike Avidano, 28th Bomb Wing judge advocate. "The legal office is always happy to assist people who come in - whether their legal issues are related to deployment or otherwise."

Although this was the fourth year Ellsworth has put on a deployment-themed event; for many Airmen, this was their first time attending KUDOS, SUDOS and TUDOS. Sergeant Mitchell said knowing what resources are available to families can take some of the stress off them when their Airman deploys.

"Sometimes the hardest part of a deployment falls on the people left behind," she said. "It never fails, the pipes always burst or the car breaks down the moment their Airman walks out the door. And it always falls on the people who stay home to fix it. But, they don't have to do it alone - and this event can put them in touch with the agencies there to help."

And as parents learned about these helping agencies, their children were able to enjoy themselves in a fun atmosphere.

"It's awesome," said Staff Sgt. Candice Compton, 28th Bomb Wing equal opportunity advisor. "I've deployed numerous times, so I'm grateful that Ellsworth has an event where I can bring my son and show him all the different parts of the process. Then, when it's my turn to go again, things will be much easier for him to understand."