Ellsworth teaches families, teachers about deployments

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center is sponsoring a deployment education event at the Pride Hangar, March 13.

This event, called Kids, Spouses and Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations, is designed to educate children, spouses of military members and teachers about the deployment process.

"We encourage family members to attend and learn what kind of things military members have to do before they deploy," said Tech. Sgt. Ann Mitchell, 28 FSS noncommissioned officer in charge of readiness. "We want to educate our families on the types of agencies we have on base available to help during a deployment."

KUDOS, SUDOS and TUDOS will allow participants to experience several demonstrations from base personnel, including the 28th Civil Engineer Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, 28th Security Forces Squadron, 28th CE fire department and the Ellsworth Honor Guard. While the AFRC has sponsored similar functions in previous years, this event marks the first time teachers were included.

"We are extremely excited about including the local-area teachers this year," Sergeant Mitchell said. "They touch the lives of our children every day and help them deal with a parent deploying."

Sergeant Mitchell said there is something of interest for everyone and encourages children of all ages, parents and teachers to attend this event.

"We are hoping to ease some of the anxieties family members experience during deployments," she said. "Many times, when we learn more about what our family members do, interact and get involved, we are more understanding and feel less stress about them leaving."

Laurie Adkins, 28th FSS AFRC community resource technician, hopes participants will take away a feeling of inclusion into the Air Force family after attending this event.

"The Airmen, spouses, children and teachers are all connected to each other," she said. "We provide support to one another and to the mission."

Sergeant Mitchell also expressed the importance of the families and teachers in the Ellsworth community.

"They are a crucial role in the mission here at Ellsworth and we want them to know it," she said.