Upcoming "Operation Together and Ready" event offers children experience of deployment process

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As a Year of the Air Force Family initiative, the RAF Mildenhall Airman and Family Readiness Center is hosting Operation Together and Ready May 1.

The event is specifically for all school-age children whose parents are stationed at RAF Mildenhall, and for Department of Defense Dependent Schools children (at RAF Lakenheath or RAF Feltwell) age 5 and over. Teachers from DoDDS are also invited to the event.

Operation Together and Ready involves the three phases of a deployment a parent would go through, explained Sharon Rector, one of the two project officers for the event.

"Phase I is the deployment line, consisting of representatives from the 48th Medical Group, 100th Air Refueling Wing Chapel and 100th ARW Legal Office," she said. "Phase II is the deployment phase, where everyone will go by bus over to the "secret" location, in support of Operation Mayday (the name of the day's simulated military operation, which is part of Operation Together and Ready)."

Once arriving at the "deployed location," there will be static displays of aircraft, along with displays including the 100th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dogs and other 100th SFS demonstrations, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department, 48th CES Explosive Ordnance Disposal and 321st Special Tactics Squadron.

"The whole idea is to give children an idea and understanding of what their parents go through when they have to process for a deployment downrange," said Master Sgt. Will Dominy, project officer for the event, and 100th FSS Airman and Family Readiness Center readiness NCO.

"Sometime a child may have questions that are never asked, so this may answer some of those questions for them. Hopefully it will make them feel, 'OK, now I know my Mom and Dad are safe, because all these other people are going with them to protect them'," he said. "Not all the parents work in security forces or the fire department, so when the children actually see all the people that go with their Mom or Dad, they may get that reassurance which they may not have right now."

To attend, parents must sign-up their children in advance by calling the A&FRC at DSN 238-3406.

The deadline for sign up is April 27 and spaces are limited so early sign up is encouraged.

When registering their children, parents will be told which "chalk" they will be in, and must show up on the day at the relevant time. There will be several chalks, so parents should ensure they know which one their child is in.

When calling to register, parents must provide the child's name, age and school attended.

At the end of the Operation Together and Ready event, everyone will be transported back to Heritage Park by bus, where there will be a "Welcome Home" celebration from the mock deployment, and a barbecue for all to enjoy.

Children under 10 must be escorted by their parents at all times. Parents of children 10 and over do not have to participate in Phase I or II, but must be at Heritage Park for Phase III in the afternoon, for the welcome home and celebration barbecue.

When arriving at the start of the day, everyone is asked to park either at the commissary parking lot, Washington Square, Airman and Family Readiness Center, North Side Fitness Center, Galaxy Club or Bob Hope Community Center parking lots. Pease do not park in the post office parking lot, as this area is required for the buses which will be transporting everyone.

Volunteers are still needed to help with the event on the day. Anyone wanting to sign-up as a volunteer should e-mail Master Sgt. Angela Willis at angela.willis@mildenhall.af.mil.

Editor's note: For safety reasons, no hats or open-toed shoes are allowed; please wear sneakers. Also, please do not wear loose clothing. No strollers will be allowed on any of the buses.