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Little warriors - Dover AFB's youngest troops attend annual Children's Deployment Line

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamal Beck
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AMCNS) --  They huddled together, beaming with anticipation and excitement, hanging on every word spoken by Tech. Sgt. Shawn Swanson, the group's mobility briefer, as they received instructions on the importance of "processing the line." He finished his speech and opened the floor to questions. After a few moments of silence, one eager, yet shy young man raised his hand and asked with some reservation, "What's a deployment?"

And that's how Dover Air Force Base's fourth annual Children's Deployment Line began for nearly 100 children April 19 at the Youth Center. Thirteen base organizations participated in this year's event - coordinated by the Family Support Center - to educate the children of deployed or deploying Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines about what "mom and dad" do before they head overseas.

After the 436th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team's Senior Airmen Sue Lynn Bostic and Gregory Locke wowed the kids with a demonstration of its bomb-disarming robot's capabilities, Sparky the Fire Dog, Smokey the Bear, Freddie the Fire Truck and McGruff the Crime Dog met the children as they moved from station to station for fingerprinting, face painting and fun while also learning how each stop on the line helped keep their parents safe during their separation. Parents were given the opportunity to learn a bit more about how the Department of Defense prepared its warfighters to wage the Global War on Terror as well as re-introduce them to the support agencies available to assist their families.

"After September 11, Air Force deployments increased significantly," said Debi Hall, Family Support Center director. "In order to prepare Dover Air Force Base children better for pending or potential family separations due to required deployments, the FSC orchestrated its Children's Deployment Line."

The purpose of the CDL is to introduce children ages 3 years and up to the process their parent or parents experience to deploy, said Mrs. Hall. Demonstrations of EOD's bomb-disarming robot and chemical warfare suits allowed the children to ask questions and increase their confidence that their parent will be safe from harm during their deployments.

The children got the chance to walk around in their parents’ boots for a couple of hours, as well as their flak vests, helmets and “chem” gear.

"They have heavy jackets they wear," said Hannah Smith, 9, daughter of 1st Lt. Peyton Smith, 436th Aerial Port Squadron Fleet Services flight commander, while waiting her turn at one of the stations. "My favorite part was trying a (meal ready-to-eat) brownie.”

"This (event) helps her understand deployment better," said Lieutenant Smith. "It gives them a taste of what things we have to take with us when we deploy."

These recruits for a day came away not only with more knowledge about deployments, but also with candy, goodie bags and other items, including a backpack – compliments of the Air Force's "Stay Connected" deployment program – which contained stationary, picture frames, CDs and a recordable ink pen to help children and parent keep in touch during their time apart.