Giving families their KUDOS

  • Published
  • By Travis Air Force Base's Airman and Family Readiness Center
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Camp KUDOS has reopened after a year-long BRAC closure and deployers aged 18 and under arrived this past Wednesday. 

KUDOS [Kids Understanding Deployed Operations] is a program designed to give military children a very realistic view of what their parents go through before, during and after deployments. 

"It makes it so simple and [it's a] fun way to get people to understand [deployments]," said Mrs. Laura Juneau, Community Readiness consultant. 

In addition, it puts parents in touch with resources to better prepare them and their families for separations due to deployments. 

"This was outstanding," said Mrs. Nancy Jacobson, wife of Lt. Col. James Jacobson. "I didn't even know what my husband does when he goes away. [KUDOS] makes it all real. It puts everything in perspective." 

The children are encouraged to wear camouflage clothing or a piece of their parent's uniform to get in the spirit. Upon reporting for duty the young deployers received dog tags, a passport and had their faces painted in camouflage. They also were trained on night vision goggles and ATVs. 

"I like all the stuff," said Austin Obispo, son of Tech. Sgt. Andy Obispo. "I learned what they have to wear. I liked the armor and the helmet." 

After in-processing, KUDOS deployers boarded a C-5 Galaxy where they saw various types of cargo and a Sesame Street DVD featuring Elmo, who explained the importance of deploying and family readiness. 

Upon arrival at Camp KUDOS they were welcomed by the "base commander." They then watched a Security Forces dog demo and an Unexploded Ordinance Disposal robot in action. They also tried Meals Ready to Eat, visited a cultural tent to learn about other countries, got a tour of a deployed AAFES site and performed a mock surgery. They also got a demonstration of what firefighters do. 

"Being able to spray a firehose at three years old is the most exciting thing," said Mrs. Jacobson of her son, Ian's, reaction to KUDOS. 

"It's really is about educating kids and having a good time," said Mr. Jason Gunnarson, Community Readiness consultant. 

The event also has benefits for the spouses of adult deployers who accompany the kids on their mission. At various points in their deployment, the kids and spouses are briefed on the importance of family readiness and support systems that are in place to help them ease stress when one parent is deployed. 

"It's really rewarding to see a spouse come out of it with tears in their eyes," Mr. Gunnarson said. 

At the end of their deployment at Camp KUDOS, the deployers returned to Travis to a hero's welcome and settled back into their lives of going to school and playing with a better understanding of what their mom or dad goes through when they deploy in real world situations. 

Many parents took time during the bus ride back to try to connect what their children just experienced with what they do when they go away. 

"I'm not sure they make the connection," said Maj. Neil Holder, who recently returned from deployment. "I'm trying to use this -- it helps." 

"KUDOS was a real Team Travis effort and the real winners were the kids," said Maj. Craig Juneau, 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander.