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Operation KID Mode offers families deployment insight

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Torey Griffith
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  After more than a decade supporting contingencies overseas, millions of service members know first hand how deployments effect the normalcy of their lives.  Always ready to support the mission, these Airmen, Marines, Soldiers and Sailors are prepared to make it happen in a moment's notice.  It's part of the job.

For military children, having their hero absent for months on end can be a difficult situation to face as their routines change and extra stress is put on every member of the family.  In effort to help them understand these changes, volunteers from around base put together a program called Operation KID Mode, a child-friendly pretend pre-deployment mobility line experience designed to familiarize them with what their parents do before they head overseas.

More than 200 expeditionary Team Andrews children experienced this slice of their parents' life when they took part in the second annual Operation KID Mode at the youth center here June 28.

Equipped with pretend passports and mobility bags, the young deployers made their way through various preparation stations as they gathered the information and equipment they would need to travel to Madagascar to support imaginary operations there.

"A few years ago, I was deployed to Southwest Asia and I had a 3-year-old at the time," said Tech. Sgt. Amanda Mocanu, 11th Force Support Squadron Military and Family Support Center readiness NCO. "As a mother I believe that Operation KID Mode is great way to help children better cope with deployments. It helps them become aware of what their moms and dads are going through and why they are leaving."

Operation KID Mode stations included a stop at the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal location, where they could try on a bomb suit helmet, and the pre-deployer's physical readiness check point, where children participated in relay-style games.

"This event is really good for the Andrews community," said Maj. Robert Koon, 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. "Operation KID Mode is a win-win because it takes many community partners to bring an event like this together and it helps children understand what their parents are going through. Kids learn best when what they're being taught is done in a fun and entertaining way. Operation KID Mode is definitely doing both those things today."

Next year's event, as is the case with many other programs, is contingent upon available funding.  If all systems are "go," information will be available at http://www.andrewsfss.com.