Operation Dyess Kids sign up to start shortly

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 4th annual Operation Dyess kids will take place June 12 starting at 7:30 a.m. with registration for the event at the BX May 27, 29, June 2 and 4. 

Operation Dyess Kids is one of the largest events for Dyess children age 3 - 15 of the year, and allows them to experience what their parents go through to deploy. 

"This is a great event that allows children to see their dad or mom are really not going to a bad place at all," said Master Sgt. Terry Montrose, Airman and Family Readiness Center superintendant. "We find if the children are more accepting of the deployment then it makes it easier on the family. Ultimately this allows the servicemember to focus on his or her deployment." 

The event allows children to go through six different stages, each allowing them to experience what it's like to get ready to deploy, go their deployment and then come home. These stages have everything from receiving a uniform and ID to boarding a C-130 and a welcome home party. 

"The event is really designed from them to have a fun experience and learn a little bit about what their parent does. Our focus is on fun and deployment issues," Sergeant Montrose said. "Many of the children have a great experience during the three-hour day."
Because of the popularity of the event it is suggested parents sign their children up as early as possible. 

"Operation Dyess Kids has been enormously popular in the past, and the registration for it fills up very quickly," Sergeant Montrose said. "Last year we actually had to turn away about 50 children, so this year we have increased the class size but we still expect it to be 100 percent filled." 

Any servicemember who has a child age 3 - 15 can register their child for the event, regardless if a parent is currently deployed. Registration will take place in the BX food court from 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. May 27, 29 and June 2, 4. An adult will have to be with the child during Operation Dyess Kids.

"Basically anyone who is stationed at Dyess has deployed, is deployed or will deploy, so we want as many people to participate as possible," Sergeant Montrose said.
For more information, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 696-5999.