Children deploy to ‘Camp Ali Isa Crème’

  • Published
  • By Airmans 1st Class Jessica McConnell and Jose Hernandez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  More than 300 servicemembers and their children participated in the fourth annual Operation Heroes event here Aug. 28.

"Operation Heroes is an educational family event meant to teach kids about the deployment process their parents go through," said Master Sgt. Carisa Smith, 5th Force Support Squadron personal and family readiness noncommissioned officer.

The purpose of the event was to give children an opportunity to simulate the deployment process from start to finish.

"It's a way of opening up the lines of communication between the children and their parents," said Sergeant Smith. "The kids can relate to what the parents see and what they go through."

Children began the day in a deployment line at the base theater where they were issued mock dog tags, mobility bags and received immunizations in the form of stickers and candy.

Once the 'deployers' had their affairs in order, children received their pre-deployment briefing from Col. Julian Tolbert, 5th Bomb Wing vice commander. When asked how many of their parents had been deployed, nearly all of the children in the room raised their hand, evidence that deployment affects more than just the parents.

The next stop for children in their simulation was dock nine, which included static displays of a B-52H Stratofortress, helicopter and humvee. While at dock nine, children interacted with Airmen who volunteered to help with the event. Airmen answered questions about their static displays so children learned even more about the equipment used during a deployment.

Children were deployed to 'Ali Isa Crème', which was located at Bud Ebert Park. While on their deployment, they were able to compete against security forces volunteers in a match of tug of war, complete an obstacle course and watch a K-9 demonstration.

At the end of the day, the young deployers re-integrated back at the base theater, where they were greeted with welcome home signs, flags and ice cream.

The importance of this event was a common theme among the participating parents.
Sergeant Smith recalled a time when she had to try to explain a deployment to her children. She said having gone through this event, her children had a better understanding of what deployments are like.

"As we were preparing for the event, I was telling them (her kids) that this is what mom went through, so they had a better understanding of what I meant," she said.

This event would not have been possible without the help of both 5th BW and 91st Missile Wing agencies. Both Sergeant Smith and Master Sgt. Markus Nehlsen, 5th FSS AFRC noncommissioned officer-in-charge, would like to thank all of the contributing agencies for their hard work and dedication that made this event possible.

If anyone is interested in volunteering for next year's event, contact the AFRC at 723-3950.