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Kadena children deploy for Skoshi Warrior '07

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Everyone in the tent stood at attention as the commander entered. 

Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander, cleared his throat and spoke to his young deployers. 

"I'm depending on you to do your best in this mission," said General Williams. "Your mission for this deployment is ... to have fun." 

The "deployers" are not your typical active-duty Airmen. They are the children of Kadena Shoguns currently deployed or preparing to deploy. This is also not a typical deployment either, but this year's Skoshi Warrior sponsored by the Airman and Family Readiness Center. 

More than 150 children, ages five to 15, came out Saturday for the event designed to give them a taste of what a deployment is like. 

"We planned Skoshi Warrior to help children understand what their parents go through when they deploy," said Patricia Jordan, 18th Mission Support Squadron supervisory community readiness consultant at the AFRC. "Through the activities we planned for them, we wanted the children to understand the importance of being mentally and physically ready to deploy. These are the concept skills we stress to our members in the military." 

After registering and receiving a pre-deployment briefing from General Williams, Skoshi Warriors reported to the immunizations tent where they received the necessary "shots" in the form of gummy fish. 

Other tent stations and activities included uniform issue, weapons display, meet and greet with McGruff the Crime Dog, ambulance tour, self-aid and buddy care demonstration, gas mask fit testing, static displays and a sampling station where children tasted various items from Meals-Ready-to-Eat packages. 

"I really liked going inside the ambulance," said Victoria Cochran, 8, daughter of Tammy and Tech. Sgt. Steven Cochran, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. "Someday, I want to be in the Air Force and work in an ambulance." 

Children also went through an obstacle course during the "deployment," which included a low-crawl, Nerf ball shooting range, self-aid and buddy care three-legged race, rifle carry and sponge relay race. 

"The obstacle course was the best part," said Kaitlyn Fleming, 8, daughter of Jeri and Tech. Sgt. Wesley Fleming, 18th Wing Public Affairs. "If they have another Skoshi Warrior in the future, I'll want to go." 

Overall, Skoshi Warrior was a huge success, said Ms. Jordan. She hopes to make it an annual event. 

"Volunteers were the key to its success," she said. "This event could not have happened without community support. I want to thank all the agencies who came together to help make this happen."