Team Aviano hosts kid deployment line

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jenay Randolph
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  For the first time homeschoolers along with students from Aviano Elementary and Middle Schools were able to experience this year's Aviano Kids Deployment Line May 8 at the Personnel Alert Holding Area.

"This year is a little better only because this is the first time we have given homeschoolers an opportunity to participate in this wonderful event," said Master Sgt. Sean McCormick, 603rd Air Control Squadron. "I'm very pleased with the number of volunteers and the large amount of participation that we have in spite of the current Bulgaria mission."

The annual Aviano Kids Deployment Line is hosted by the 603rd ACS and ran by volunteers from around the base. Children were escorted by volunteers, teachers and parents to different stations to get a glimpse into the deployment process that many of their parents experience.

Volunteers from the 31st Medical Group gave the children a tour of the inside of an ambulance, showed them how to use the noise monitor and educated them on the medical process for deployment.

"I volunteered because I think this is a great opportunity for the kids to have fun and experience what military members go through to prepare for deployment," said Senior Airman John Kirkpatrick, 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering journeyman."It is also great way to incorporate the kids' perceptions with reality of what their parents do."

Airmen from 31st Security Forces Squadron showed kids an armored Humvee, allowing them to sit in the front seat, turn the wheel and honk the horn, while military working dog handlers demonstrated how theK-9's are used for protection.

"My favorite part was when we got to turn the wheel and blow the horn in the big truck," said 8-year-old Laila Turner, Aviano Elementary School student. "It was fun."

Members of the 31st Force Support Squadron provided lunch for the kids and volunteers while the Airman and Family Readiness Center provided the children with face painting, dog tags and briefed them on how to stay connected with deployed parents.

Master Sgt. Robert Supon, 31st Munitions Squadron academic instructor said he was glad that his daughter could participate in the event.

"Two years ago when I was deployed to Afghanistan she thought that I just went to Texas for a very long time because she didn't understand," he said. "This gives her a better understanding of what I do."