LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The Langley Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted its tenth annual Operation Hero event Nov. 19 at the 1st Fighter Wing Static Display Hangar, giving children of Airmen insight into what their parents experience during the deployment process .
The goal of the program is to ease the stress of deployments on children and maintain family unity. At the event, children interacted with Airmen to simulate a deployment line, including receiving orders, getting fitted in protective gear and wearing concealment face paint.
According to Master Sgt. Dawn Chapman, the AFRC Readiness NCOIC of Operation Hero, this year's event featured an appearance from the military working dog team, marksmanship training, a mock physical training test, and vehicle displays and demonstrations by security forces, emergency responders, and Langley's Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight.
While Operation Hero provides fun and entertainment for children, it also lets them experience elements of the deployment processing line, making them feel more comfortable when the time comes for their parents to deploy.
"This event is important to help the kids to understand the deployment process, as tt helps the children understand why mom or dad might be so busy before they have to leave," Chapman said. "It also shows them a little bit of what their parent goes through to deploy."
The AFRC provides year-round support to Airmen and families through a variety of support programs. Taking care of families of deployed Airmen is a critical piece of the center's mission, and Chapman said the event gives back to those who "keep the home fires burning" while Airmen are away.
"I am excited to give back to the families that sacrifice so much for us," she said. "I'm thankful for all that they do while we are gone."
For more information about the Airman & Family Readiness Center and its programs, call (757) 764-3990.