Base youth gear up for mock deployment Published May 6, 2014 By Senior Airman Andrew Crawford Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Minot Air Force Base is gearing up for a deployment, May 31, but instead of Airmen, this one features children. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Airman and Family Readiness Center is slated to conduct Operation Heroes, an event aimed at helping children understand what deploying parents go through. Youth under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Parents must sign a consent form for all children to participate. "The goal of the event is to foster communication on deployment matters and give families a better understanding of the deployment experience," said Master Sgt. Anton Olson, Airman and Family Readiness Center. This event is intended to give children of deploying service members a better understanding of what their military parents go through in order to deploy. The children will do everything from going through a pre-deployment line to getting their backpacks, shot records, and dog tags, added Olson. The young "warriors" are given briefings by various base agencies, which include Finance, Public Health and the Chapel. The children will be "recalled" the night before the event and told to report for this deployment, Olson explained. All registered children will be issued military orders, pre-deployment checklists, backpacks and dog tags. "Warriors will get a chance to walk through deployed living quarters, participate in interactive displays, touch and ask questions about Minot AFB equipment and experience field rations," said Olson. With parent's consent, military dependants ages 12 and up will take part in a 'top secret mission' that will surely test their skills trying to adapt in a deployed setting. All warriors will then meet up for a reunion, barbeque and military working dog field demonstrations. This event is open to all military families regardless if their loved ones are deployed or not. Pre-register at Operation Heroes Headquarters located at the Airman and Family Readiness Center by May 23. A week prior to the event, between May 27-30, participants will visit the Airman and Family Readiness Center to pick-up a backpack, dog tags and mobility folders. To sign-up or for more information, please contact the Airman Family and Readiness Center at 723-3950.