Team Mildenhall kids experience mock deployment line
By Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper, 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
/ Published August 15, 2019
RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The 100th Air Refueling Wing’s Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted a ‘kids deployment line’ here Aug. 9, 2019.
The third annual Operation Together and Ready, helped families of Team Mildenhall learn what life is like when an Airman is deployed.
Activities began with the children learning a few customs and courtesies in preparation of a briefing by the 100th ARW commander and command chief. Next, they went through the pre-deployment phase where children received breifings and stamps from various offices such as legal, finance, medical and the chaplain.
Afterward, the kids received their deployment gear and watched a demonstration of the military working dogs by the 100th Security Forces Squadron.
After lunch, they were divided up into groups to get some hands-on experience with Security Forces, Logistics, the Fire Department and Fuels. They also got to tour a KC-135 Stratotanker, a CV-22 Osprey and a MC-130J Commando II.
This event was more than just a fun afternoon for the families of Airmen.
“You can’t do a deployment alone, you need your family to support you and when they understand whats involved in the process they can support you better,” said Master Sgt. Carlos Castro, AFRC Readiness NCO. “By helping familes understand what we do on a day-to-day basis and building those relationships we all become more resilient, which is our goal.”
To close out the event Chief Master Sgt. Kathi Glascock, 100th ARW command chief, commended the children for doing well on their deployment. Finally, the first sergeants from the wing awarded each child a coin to commemorate their experience.