Airman issues "deploying" child dog tags during Operation KUDOS.

Senior Airman Gerline Cardenas, 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, issues an identification, or "dog" tag to an Operation KUDOS participant at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., July 10, 2010. KUDOS, or Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, included simulated review of wills and powers of attorney and even inoculations, in the form of a cup of Jell-O, to give children a a better understanding of what their mother or father goes through when they deploy as members of the 27th Special Operations Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Greg Allen) (RELEASED)

Cannon children view an AC-130H Spectre gunship during Operation KUDOS

Children get to see what the inside of an AC-130H Spectre gunship looks like during Operation KUDOS, or Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, July 10, 2010. The event at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., was designed to give them a better understanding of what mom and dad, assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing, undergo during a deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Greg Allen) (RELEASED)

Children step into a Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. hangar to learn more about deployments.

Children step off the bus and into a hangar at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., June 10, 2010, to begin more processing during Operation KUDOS - Kids Understanding Deployment Operations. The four-hour event gave children more awareness of what their mother or father undergo when they deploy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Greg Allen) (RELEASED)

T-shirt part of Operation KUDOS uniform issue

Children receive an Operation KUDOS T-shirt as they prepare to "deploy" June 10, 2010 at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. KUDOS, or Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, give children a better understanding of what their mother or father go through as Air Commandos of the 27th Special Operations Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Greg Allen) (RELEASED)

Operation KUDOS gives Cannon kids deployment insight

Published July 15, 2010
By Greg Allen
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Deployments are difficult for most military families, but Operation KUDOS seeks to make children more aware of how the Air Force prepares Mom or Dad for that painful absence.

Nearly 100 children participated in the Operation KUDOS, or Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, exercise here July 10 that began with a telephone call informing them to meet at the base chapel for briefings. They then stood in line, just like mom or dad, received their MOBAGS or Mobility Bags just like mom or dad, and followed each other as they received simulated payment, wills and powers of attorneys. Then they boarded a bus. Just like mom or dad.

"We're going to run you through the operation just like every one of your parents gets to do," said Col. Stephen Clark, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, to the children before the exercise began. "It's important to understand what they do."

Meanwhile, Mom or Dad sat at the chapel and listened as Tech. Miguel Cruz from the Airman and Family Readiness Center explain that the end result for Operation KUDOS was for it to be "an experience that will stick with the kids," and to alleviate future apprehension about deployments.

"This took nearly four months of planning," said Master Sgt. Tory Gard, A&FRC readiness NCO. "It gives [the children] a better overall understanding of what Mom and Dad go through."

In addition to going through normal deployment procedures, such as receiving inoculations, where in this case was a red-colored cup of Jell-O, the children had an opportunity to try on some of the equipment their parents use, such as body armor and Kevlar helmets, as well as watch a K9 demonstration by Military Working Dog handlers from the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron.

They also had the opportunity to see the inside of an AC-130H Spectre gunship. The crew let them know that it was the same aircraft that was used in the movie "Transformers."

For 15-year old Kali Grove, the KUDOS experience was a couple of weeks late for her, but she enjoyed the experience, nonetheless.

"My dad [Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Groves, a combat arms instructor here] just returned from a six-month deployment to Al Dhafra, she said. "He made it home for the Fourth of July."
But, she added, "it was a great learning experience to better understand what Dad went through."

Following their "deployment" to "Camp Kudos, Afghanistan," the children got back on the bus to return home, or in this case, the chapel. There they met their parents, with flags waving and hugs. They experienced the happiness of returning home.

Just like mom and dad do.