AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Blake Silvis, 97th Civil Engineering Squadron structure shop Airman, shows a child how to operate a boom lift during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma April 1, 2023. The kids were able to get into fire trucks, police cars, and a C-17 Globemaster III throughout the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

David Inmon, son of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Andrea Inmon, 54th Air Refueling Squadron senior enlisted leader, marvels at the Military and Family Readiness Center’s table of goodies during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. At the start of the line, children were given “orders,” dog tags with their own last name, a canteen, and chocolate covered coins from the 97th Comptroller Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

A military family laughs together during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. The event gave children an opportunity to see what their parents go through during a real deployment line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

Nathanael Roldan, son of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cristhian Roldan, 97th Air Mobility Wing religious affairs noncommissioned officer in charge, gazes at his personalized dog tags while going through the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023.The deployment line was filled with fun and immersive activities like taste-testing MREs from the97th Force Support Squadron and gearing up with aircrew helmets and parachute packs from the 97th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Schulze, 97th Operations Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, places a parachute pack on a child during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. Over 160 Airmen and families attended the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Casey Snyder, 97th Security Forces Squadron combat arms noncommissioned officer in charge, watches a child get into the gunner position on a Humvee at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. The goal of the “Kid’s Deployment Line” was to provide an immersive experience that represented each organization on the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

Henry Fabis, son of Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Fabis, 58th Airlift Squadron loadmaster instructor, plays with the controls on a C-17 Globemaster III during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. The event had nearly 100 volunteers from several different units at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Heidi Phillips, 97th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, adjusts a helmet on Nathanael Roldan, son of Staff Sgt. Cristhian Roldan, 97th Air Mobility Wing religious affairs noncommissioned officer in charge, during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. Airmen from the 97thForce Support Squadron’s Military and Family Readiness Center hosted the “Kid’s Deployment Line” to build resilience and understanding in the children of service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

Robert Garrison, city of Altus mayor, autographs a paper for a military child during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. Garrison made a speech proclaiming April as “Month of the Military Child” throughout the city of Altus. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Brady-Lee, 97th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, waits for an answer while talking to children of service members during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, 2023. Brady-Lee encouraged the children to be proud of their status as military children, especially during April, which is known as “The Month of the Military Child” across the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

Robert Garrison (center left), city of Altus mayor, poses with U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Brady-Lee (center right), 97th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, and children of servicemembers during the “Kid’s Deployment Line” at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, April 1,2023. Airmen from the 97th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family Readiness Center designed the “Kid’s Deployment Line” to be a fun way to honor the challenges military children face because of their parents’ service to their country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed)

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AAFB units give kids a taste of deployment experience

Published April 5, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Kari Degraffenreed
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --

Children of Airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing got a glimpse of their parents' experiences in deployment lines on April 1, 2023 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The Month of the Military Child kicked off with the “Kids Deployment Line” put on by the 97th Force Support Squadron Military and Family Readiness Center with the help of units across the base. The event gave children a taste of what their parents go through during a real deployment line but with fun and interactive twists, like chocolate covered coins from the 97th Comptroller Squadron, taste-testing MREs from the 97th Force Support Squadron, and gearing up with aircrew helmets and parachute packs from the 97th Operations Support Squadron.