Camp KUDOS to reopen Oct. 3

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Pack your bags, grab your mobility records, desert camouflage uniforms, boots, plane ticket and pillow and prepare yourselves for the long journey.

After a year of renovations, upgrades, AFSO 21 initiatives and Lean events, Camp KUDOS is set to reopen Oct. 3, and deployers, ages 18 and younger, are once again asked to deploy in support of the camp's operational mission.

The Kids Understanding Deployment Operations, better known as KUDOS, is a 60th Services Squadron-sponsored event designed to give family members a realistic observational understanding of what servicemembers go through before, during and after deployments.

"The event will give Team Travis youth a better understanding of what their military parent(s) go through when they deploy in support of the Global War on Terrorism and the many other operations Travis supports," said Shenethia Carter, 60th Services Squadron.

To add a more realistic portrayal of a deployed air base, Camp KUDOS will be divided into three main sections: inprocessing, deployment and homecoming, each featuring their own unique activities.

"This year's event will feature a C-5 static display, Explosive Ordnances Disposal robot, a fire truck and a Hummer," Ms. Carter said. "In addition, there will be a medical tent, mobile kitchen unit and mobile base exchange. T-shirts, patches, dog tags, 'proud to be a military youth' bracelets, kudos bars, 'welcome home' goody bags and much more will also be given out."

While KUDOS is aimed at helping servicemembers' children better understand what their parents go through during deployments, there is another important group KUDOS' event coordinators are reaching out to.

For the first-time, teachers will experience their own mock deployment through the Teachers Understanding Deployment Operations event.

"TUDOS is designed to raise awareness and help teachers understand the deployment cycle," Ms. Carter said.

"For the teachers of these students, we hope they gain some insight into the entire deployment experience and can better assist our military children at school when a parent or loved one deploys," added Lt. Col. Oscar Vaughn, 60th SVS commander.

During their portion, teachers will experiences their own mock deployment to Camp TUDOS, complete with inprocessing and more detailed briefings.

"By getting teachers involved and giving them better knowledge of deployments, hopefully we can give our children a complete circle of support," Ms. Carter said.

"The overall objective of the KUDOS and TUDOS missions is to make sure everyone, young and older, have fun and learn about some of the experiences these great American heroes go through in lands far away to secure our way of life back home," Colonel Vaughn said. "In letting the children of deployed servicemembers have a small taste of what their parents go through prior to deploying and at their actual deployment, the dedicated staff of KUDOS volunteers hope the children will gain understanding of what their military parent goes through in support of the Global War on Terrorism."

KUDOS/TUDOS schedule 

-- 11 a.m. to noon - Home School Educators
-- 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Special Needs Families
-- Noon to 1: 30 p.m. - Drop-Ins
-- 1 to 2 p.m. - Family Child Care and Drop-Ins
-- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. - Kindergarten Children - (Child Development Programs)
-- 2 p.m. - TUDOS
-- 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. - School Age Children - (Youth Center)

NOTE: For youth not in the Youth Programs or Child Development Programs, parents may bring their child to Hangar P1 in BDU's, (optional), from noon until 2 p.m., and their child will experience the mock deployment.  Individual groups will "deploy" in 30-minute increments.