Barksdale kids walk in parents' boots Published Sept. 28, 2010 By Senior Airman Amber Ashcraft 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Airman and Family Readiness Center kicked off the annual "Operation Hero" event here, Sept. 25. More than 130 children and 90 parents participated in the mock-deployment line to help children understand what their military parents experience before deploying downrange. Some activities included a weapons qualification with paintball guns, chemical readiness preparation and a physical fitness assessment.