Operation Hero to kick off Sept. 27

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Mozer O. Da Cunha
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - --  The Airman & Family Readiness Center is scheduled to host the annual Operation Hero beginning 10 a.m., Sept. 27 at the Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell Fitness Center.

Operation Hero is a mock deployment intended to give children ages 5 to 15 a better understanding of the deployment process during a day of mission briefs, mobility processing and other deployment related activities.

"Children will go through a deployment line the same way our Airmen do," said Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Fleming, A&FRC readiness NCO. "By experiencing it themselves, they will have a better idea of what happens when their parents deploy."

In preparation for the event, staff members from the A&FRC and the fitness center are planning a variety of activities to simulate a deployment line.

"The day will be begin with participating children being recalled and asked to report to the fitness center," Fleming said. "Upon arrival they will receive a briefing from the wing commander, go through a pre-deployment line and participate in a mock physical fitness test."

In essence, by providing the children with a mock deployment experience the A&FRC aims to reduce the stress caused by deployments.

"Deployments are a part of military life," said Stephanie Reyes, A&FRC chief. "What we fear is the unknown, therefore by giving the children an understanding of what mom and dad are going to do prior to deploying, we hope to alleviate that fear."

In addition to educating the children about the deployment process, Operation Hero will also provide them with demonstrations by a variety of units from Barksdale.

"After the pre-deployment line, members from the fire department, Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit and Security Forces will educate and entertain the children with demonstrations," Fleming said.

Registration ends Sept. 22. Children who register by the deadline will receive a Operation Hope picture identification card, a set of dog tags and a t-shirt.

For more information, contact the A&FRC at 456-8400.