RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Family members of Airmen interested in learning all about what it takes an Airman to prepare for deployment can still sign up for Operation Families Learning About Global Support through June 10.
Master Sgt. Todd Remington, Airman and Family Readiness Center NCO in charge of readiness, said he expects approximately 200 family members to participate in Operation FLAGS on June 12, a program he said gives family members a smaller-scale view of what it's like when a parent, wife or husband goes through in order to successfully deploy.
"Right now we're ratcheting up for it, going through our checklists, having coordination meetings, assembling the mock mobility folders and going through our donations," the sergeant said Monday. "On June 9 and 10, we'll be coordinating with the youth center to make mock CAC identification cards for the kids from there that will be participating in the program. We're basically working to ensure everything we've planned will fall into place."
Sergeant Remington added he and other volunteers planning Operation FLAGS must also assemble donated backpacks, coordinate the making and serving of about 200 lunches, ensure that security forces block off some streets near the A&FRC for the day-long event, have the military working dog demonstration arranged and organized, ensure that Hanger 52's personnel deployment functions, or PDFs, are ready to take on about 200 family members and that buses and static displays of aircraft and equipment displays are ready for the event.
Additionally Sergeant Remington said Operation FLAGS planners must arrange a clean-up crew for after the event, assign family members to deployment groups, or "chalks," and ensure that volunteer representatives from various base functions are there at the event to speak to family members about the different phases of the deployment process.
"It takes the whole base to support an event like this," said Tech. Sgt., Susan Ann Flores, A&FRC assistant NCO in charge of readiness.
The schedule of events for Operation FLAGS is as follows:
8:30 a.m. - Start in-processing
9 a.m. - Youth camp personnel arrive
9:45 a.m. - Event opens
10 a.m. - Assemble deployment chalks
10:15 a.m. - Assembly complete. Disperse chalks to first rotation
10:30 a.m. - Arrive at first rotation site
11:15 a.m. - Disperse chalks to second rotation
Noon - Disperse chalks to third rotation
12:45 p.m. - Re-assemble at A&FRC
1 p.m. - Lunch
1:45 p.m. - Finish lunch
1:50 p.m. - Military working dog demonstration
2:21 p.m. - Closing comments
2:45 p.m. - Participants leave
3 p.m. - Operation FLAGS shut-down
"It's a lot of effort putting this together," concluded Sergeant Remington, "but I love seeing the feedback we get from the kids - and their parents."
The sergeant said family members who wish to sign up for the free event are encouraged to do so by June 10. For more information, call the A&FRC at 652-5321 or log on to
www.randolphfamilies.com.