Operation KIDS

  • Published
  • By Deborah Silliman Wolfe
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Operation KIDS kicked off its third year at Luke Air Force Base Saturday. More than 250 children signed up for the event, which was headed by Tech. Sgt. Michael Skinner, 56th Mission Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Flight NCO-in-charge. 

"Operation KIDS was awesome this year," said Sergeant Skinner. "Each year it gets better. The first year, we had 112 children signed up, last year 232, and this year we had 253 kids sign up for the event. My max was 250, but I have a soft spot for kids." 

Children and parents that attended the event went through a deployment line where they received a variety of supplies, including candy vaccinations and a personal identification card. They were given a pre-deployment briefing by Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander, about their deployment to Camp Thunderbolt. 

"The event is a great kinship between the current generation, the past generation and the future generations of Americans that are going to serve their country," General Neubauer said. 

The participants boarded buses that took them to the camp where a variety of activities awaited them. A rock climbing wall, working dog demonstration, an M16 air gun range and a number of tents were set up to help children understand what it is like when their parents deploy overseas. 

"I am deploying soon and I wanted my kids to experience what I'm going to experience soon," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Ramirez, 607th Air Control Squadron quality assurance technician. 

Camp Thunderbolt had many of the amenities that a typical overseas base would have, such as a chow hall, sleeping quarters, medical tent and a security forces tent. 

Once the children's time in Camp Thunderbolt was up, they were bused back to Luke where a welcome home party awaited them, complete with cake, American flags and the handing out of certificates of completion. 

"I think we went above and beyond this year," Sergeant Skinner said. "The event was a huge success!"