Family night out

Sarah Harris, wife of Staff Sgt. Jeremy Harris, 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, watches a film along with her three children Akhia, 6, left, Ava, 2, center, and Adaija, 4, right, during the Family Night Out at the Soundside Club at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 9, 2012. Attendees were able to view films on two different screens in the play and dining areas. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Joe McFadden)(RELEASED)

Family night out

Sophia Gonzales, 4, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Santiago Gonzales, 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., watches as her nephew Micah, 2, plays bean bag toss while at the Soundside Club at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 9, 2012. Children had an opportunity to play games and bounce in a large bounce castle within the club. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Joe McFadden)(RELEASED)

Family night out

Children play in a large bounce castle during the Family Night Out event at the Soundside Club at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 9, 2012. Children also had a chance to watch movies on two large screens and eat burgers and hot dogs at the event. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Joe McFadden)(RELEASED)

Family night out

Capt. Kristina Sawtelle, Air Force Special Operations Command, left, and Capt. Jonathan Sawtelle, AFSOC, right, pose with their children, Ian, 4, Esmé, 2, and Zoe, nine months old, during the Family Night Out event at the Soundside Club at Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 9, 2012. Families at the event were served hot dogs, hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and sweet potato fries. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Joe McFadden)(RELEASED)

Soundside hosts Family Night Out

Published June 12, 2012
By Senior Airman Joe McFadden
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In the same venue where Air Commandos hold formal ceremonies, nearly 100 children ate finger foods, played bean bag toss and bounced in a bouncy inflatable castle during the Family Night Out event at the Soundside Club June 8.

The 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron coordinated the free event to give families an opportunity to get together, have fun and enjoy the view from the sound.

"It's absolutely great to have all the families from Team Hurlburt come out and enjoy themselves," said Lt. Col. Derrick Floyd, commander of 1st SOFSS. "This is a million-dollar view, and it's a good place to celebrate and have our families out here together."

Organizers combined the club's three ballrooms to include a play area with an inflatable castle as well as a dining area. Both sections had popular movies playing on large screens so families could enjoy the show while eating their meal or sitting on a bean bag in the play area.

When not playing, children snacked on kid-friendly finger foods such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries while adults could purchase hot dogs and hamburgers.

"Whoever designed the menu definitely had children in mind and knew exactly what they wanted," said Master Sgt. Sarah Wilson, additional duty first sergeant for 319th Special Operations Squadron.

Wilson brought her two children, Aaron, 13, and Lemuel, 9, who just completed the school year that week.

"The kids were excited and asked 'Where are we going?'" Wilson said. "I just said, 'you'll see when we get there.' And now they're having a ball. I really appreciate 1st SOFSS for doing all of this with so much focus on families. We can go through so much stress, and it's nice to just relax and have fun. It's going to be a really great summer."

Floyd said, when weather permits, future events could be moved outside the club to make use of a new beach volleyball area, outdoor projection screens and music.

"This has exceeded my expectations," said Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing. "This is absolutely what I've been hoping we'd be able to put together, and it is my fondest wish that we'll be able to make this a regular occurrence."

For more information about future events, visit the 1st SOFSS website at www.myhurlburt.com.