Hickam's junior warriors deploy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Erin Smith
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  At 7:30 a.m., the excited voices of 170 children in formation could be heard calling the cadence, "Everywhere we go, people want to know who we are, so we tell them ...." At 4:30 p.m., the same voices were heard coming through the door of the community center. This time, a little more weary and the cadence was, "I need a na-aap, a long, long na-aap."

Hickam's littlest warriors participated in the base's 5th annual mock deployment exercise, Operation Hele On, Friday at the Community Center.

Operation Hele On bridges the gap between children and Air Force military parents when it comes to deployment, according to Tech. Sgt. Cherie Greene, 15th Mission Support Squadron Operation Hele On director. 

"This program is designed so children can get a better understanding of what parents do when they deploy," she said. "Children see that their parents feel trained and ready to go. Children are visual. You can explain all day long what you do but seeing it first-hand helps them really understand."

Beginning the adventure, the children, ranging in ages 9 to 14, met face-to-face with volunteer military training instructors who taught them basic drill movements and military customs and courtesies. After the encounter with the MTIs they broke into flights and marched to the deployment line.

There, they sat through deployment briefings and tried on the same personal protective equipment their parents are issued when they deploy.

After a struggle with his flack vest and Kevlar, Robert Brown, 14, said, "And all this to keep a bullet from touching you."

He went on to explain the difficulties of the gear. "It's hectic. Putting on your belt, finding your ID card, the heavy helmet ... It takes a lot for [an Airman] to be suited up properly."

After receiving briefings and equipment, the "airmen" headed to a C-17 for take-off. There, they received a briefing from the loadmasters, who explained how much equipment a C-17 can carry and how fast it can fly.

Upon landing at Kumulani Air Base, the simulated deployment location, the warriors received weapons safety training and observed a military working dog demonstration from the 15th Security Forces Squadron; they also underwent explosive ordnance recognition training from the 15th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. After, it was on to the medical tent where they received moulage, simulated wounds.

At the end of their busy day, the children performed a drill competition for their parents.

"It was impressive how quickly they were able to catch on to the drill movements," said Master Sgt. Mike Moore, an Operation Hele On Military Training Instructor from the 735th Air Mobility Squadron.

"Most importantly though, the children got a lot out of it. One kid whose father is deployed came in at the beginning of the day upset and walked out relieved and with a better understanding of what his dad is doing. If we helped one kid that day, we served our purpose."