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SES, BES students simulate deployment to Rio De Janeiro

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Nearly 600 students from the Spangdahlem and Bitburg Elementary Schools attended Kids' Deployment Day at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, April 27-29, 2015.

Kids' Deployment Day is a three-day simulated deployment line for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The event consists of four different stations covering topics such as weather and medical awareness, weapons familiarization training, vehicle operations and transportation via military aircraft.

"The majority of our students have active-duty parents that have or will deploy," said Chi Anne McGrew, 52nd Mission Support Group school liaison officer. "This allows them the opportunity to understand what these parents experience as they prepare for deployment."

The destination for the students deployment - Rio De Janeiro.

"Rio De Janeiro was chosen from the movie Rio," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Nicole Soto, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron material management flight commander. "We figured this was a place the kids could relate to. The mission was a way for kids to get familiar with different cultures and to experience what their parents go through when they have to deploy."

More than 40 staff members and parents helped organize the event along with the help from Spangdahlem Airmen. The teachers and parents of the students acknowledged how rewarding the event was for everyone.

"I get the benefit of hearing from the teachers how much they appreciate the experience not only for the students, but also for themselves." McGrew said. "Parents also let me know the great conversations they have with their kids after that day about their deployment experience."

Going through the process of setting up an event such as this has its rewards.

"The look on the kids' faces and the enthusiasm they displayed really made it great to be a part of this event," Soto said.
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