KUDOS to kids

Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, addresses children participating in the Kids Understand Deployment Operations event at the Deployment Control Center auditorium on Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27, 2013. This is the first step before participating in various activities to mimick the steps military members take before deploying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hayden K. Hyatt)

KUDOS to kids

Children await a bag of goods from Tech. Sgt. Gina Hallam, NCOIC of individual protective equipment at the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, at the Kids Understand Deployment Operations event at the Deployment Control Center auditorium on Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27, 2013. This station provided the first of a long list of activities that imitate pre-deployment processes, where Airmen are issued various items necessary for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hayden K. Hyatt)

KUDOS to kids

Children pass around a rifle plate and helmet during the Kids Understand Deployment Operations event at the Deployment Control Center auditorium on Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27, 2013. This part of the event showcased various tactical gear that Airmen must acquire and eventually wear, before deploying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hayden K. Hyatt)

KUDOS to kids for having military parents

Published May 8, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Kim
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- "Oos" and "Ahs" of children could be heard within an earshot at every turn at the Deployment Control Center on Hurlburt Field, Fla. As children giggled with glee as they shuffled around their "goodie" bags, others passed around steel plates that go into vests with children donning gas masks and some braved the weight of full tactical gear--it paints a picture of what their parents do and that's what the Airman & Family Readiness Center wants them to see.

Hundreds of children gathered to understand deployment procedures at the Kids Understanding Deployment Operations at the Deployment Control Center at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27.

The program, better known as KUDOS, is an A&FRC initiative designed to give children an insight to what military members do when they deploy.

"It's a good opportunity for the kids to understand what their parents go through for deployments," said Senior Airman James Sweeney, electronic warfare journeyman for 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron. "It gives them an opportunity to get the whole concept of what we're doing here today."

A deeper purpose may lay here, as children not only get a glimpse of what their parents go through, but the program may give them solace in understanding what their parents do when they finally deploy.

"I feel it's important because it helps them manage the stress of their parents being gone," Sweeney said.

Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, states regularly, "Hurlburt Field is the Air Force's most deployed installation."

The Airman & Family Readiness Center attempts to alleviate any negative effects that may be drawn from this that start with events like KUDOS.

"It [makes it] easier for them to adjust when their parents do leave on a deployment," said Sarah Holohan, intelligence analyst for 1st Special Operations Support Squadron.