Team Travis hosts first-ever TUDOS event

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  More than 60 teachers from the Travis Unified School District experienced their very own mock deployment as Team Travis hosted its first-ever Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations event Oct. 3.

The 60th Mission Support Squadron-sponsored event was designed to give teachers a better understanding of deployments and how it may affect their students.

"Our overall goal is for teachers to understand what it means to a child when his/her parents deploy," said Mustak Keval, event coordinator.

Upon arrival to Deployment Central, the deployers went through their own mini-basic training, where they were issued their uniforms, consisting of a camouflage battle dress blouse, dog-tags, passports, TUDOS duffle bag and water canteen.

Following a few training tips on marching and saluting, the deployers boarded their plush bus and proceeded on their journey to Camp TUDOS.

However, the teachers weren't given a chance to take in the scenery as they were attacked by "terrorists," played convincingly by members of the 60th Security Forces Squadron.

Luckily for the teachers, the 60th SFS' Special Weapons and Tactics team wasted no time in apprehending the assailants and ensuring that no one was harmed.

"No need to worry, the situation is under control," Tech. Sgt. Tyler Brown, SWAT team leader assured the passengers.

Although the "attack" wasn't real, it gave teachers a realistic version of what could happen during a similar situation.

"I thought the hostage situation was interesting," one teacher said. "I wanted to watch but I also wanted to follow directions and keep my head down."

After safely arriving to Camp TUDOS, teachers were given more detailed briefing about the different phases of deployments and how children may be impacted during each phase of deployment.

"We also discussed the resources available to teachers to help them with children of deployed members and how to access those resources," said Mr. Keval, event coordinator. "They also received briefs regarding how each child may respond differently to a parent's absence."

Finally, after returning to Travis, the teachers were greeted with hero's welcomes, many of them from their very own students.

"This event was very nice and informative," said Monica Phillips, TUSD teacher. "I truly appreciate it and it is nice to be included."

Mr. Keval said that due to its success, TUDOS will become an annual event and, with more time and experience, opened to a larger audience.

"Looking at the results of our pre/post surveys, we can tell that teachers fully understood the impact of deployments on military children," he said. "Hopefully with the lessons learned from this experience, we will be able to invite a larger audience and include other surrounding school districts, such as Fairfield/Suisun, Vacaville and Dixon, which service our military-connected children."