Article Display

Meet the Viper: Children get behind the scenes look at deployment

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kelsey Tucker
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - --  For any military parent, a chance to educate their children about their job and deployments is an opportunity worth seizing.

The Kids Meet the Viper event, held Sept. 23, offered Team Shaw's parents a chance to take their children through a deployment line.

"What the kids are going through is pretty much the exact same as the active duty member would go through when they deploy," said Tech. Sgt. Evan Singleton, 20th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Hosted by the 20th FSS and previously known as "Operation: Take Flight," this year the Kids Meet the Viper event added a new twist - the chance to see an F-16CM Fighting Falcon up close and learn about it from Capt. Kirk Smith, 79th Fighter Squadron pilot.

This change was a result of feedback from children that had taken part in the event for two to three years, said Singleton.

"I asked a couple of kids and they're like, 'oh, it's awesome, but can we try something different?'" said Singleton. "We're gonna give them a shot at doing something different."

This year's idea was to make the event more interactive and hands-on. After going through the deployment line, the kids were bussed from the deployment center to a hangar where they were able to participate in a readiness exercise with Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear before being introduced to the F-16.

"Putting a plane into the mix, I think, is going to make it a little bit more interesting, and make it a little bit more rewarding when it comes down to kids enjoying it," said Singleton.

Some aspects of the event remained the same, however - such as the chance to try on the same MOPP gear that their parents wear.

"The kids always have a blast trying out (MOPP) gear, masks, and vests - with and without plates," said Staff Sgt. Karl Bockting, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment craftsman. "Our "MOPP man" shows them what their parents look like with all that gear on. They even get to take photos with him, and it's nice to see their smiling, albeit somewhat frightened faces when they see him."

Though this year's event is over, Singleton is already looking forward to the future.

"We're going to keep making it better," said Singleton. "That's the biggest thing that I want to do. I want to make sure the kids enjoy this event, as well as the parents."