Giving back to our 'super heroes'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway
  • 1st Special Operation Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Posters thanking military members for being "super heroes" line the walls of Fort Walton Beach High School gymnasium. In the background, handmade posters painted as different super heroes adorn each of the gym' s walls. In the middle of the floor, high school students prepare for battle against children of deployed Airmen with mock-swords in hand and thus the charge began in a gym in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., May 2.

The event, titled "See You Soon", is one of the many events hosted by the Student 2 Student program to help military children,

"The Fort Walton Beach High School Student 2 Student program recognizes the challenges of military life," said Nancy Prescott, a Hurlburt Field school liaison officer for 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron. "The students wanted to give back to Hurlburt Field and the military community."

The military-based program is run by the Military Child Education Coalition and trains military-connected high school students how to create a peer-based program in their school to support the many transitions of military children.

The participants of the S2S program consist of an advisor, the school liaison officer and students from FWBHS.

"The [S2S program is] an international club helping new military members coming into the school," said Sarah Slife, daughter of Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing. "We help the kids meet new people and integrate the new kids into the area."

The focus of this particular event was to provide free food and a break to the spouses of deployed military members. The food at the event was provided by the S2S program through their many fundraising events such as a holiday food drives.

Teenagers paired with each child to assist them with packing boxes with items such as DVDs, toiletries, snacks and many other things deployed Airmen may need or want. .

The kids also rotated between different stations, giving them the opportunity to ride tricycles, create love bracelets and write letters for their deployed loved ones.

"I am a military child myself and I know how hard all the moving and transitioning can be," said Tyler Powers, an active member for the S2S program. "Tonight was the best because helping the little kids send gifts to their loved ones means a lot to them and is a great thing to do."