Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sergio Gamboa | Sidney Dew, a Tyndall Jr. Raptor participant, tries on a protective mask used by...... read more read more
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The 325th Force Support Squadron Airmen and Family Readiness Center provided that opportunity May 6, when they hosted the annual Jr. Raptor deployment experience event at the Tyndall Youth Center and Silver Flag field.
“We do this to give kids an idea of what their parents go through when they deploy overseas,” said Rebecca Mroczkowski, 325th FSS community readiness specialist.
Jr. Raptor is a program that has been going on for over a decade, benefiting military children by providing educational and hands-on activities with what some of their parents do to support the Tyndall mission.
“The child gets to see what their parent does, but typically won’t get to see what other parents do,” Mroczkowski said. “[Jr. Raptor] gives them an idea on how to talk to other children and understand what their parents do when they are gone or at work. It’s an eye-opening experience for them.”
More than 60 children, ranging from first grade to high school seniors, experienced a deployment out-processing line, learned military formation movements, and watched a 325th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog demonstration.
“It looks like it takes hard work to be in the military,” said Savion Dew, a Jr. Raptor at the event. “It was really fun to see how K-9’s attack people who don’t listen to security forces here and is a good thing to know what will happen if you don’t.”
Approximately 30 volunteers painted faces, organized children into different age groups, participated in physical exercise training and tug-of-war competitions.
“I heard good things about the event, so I decided to come out and support,” said Senior Airman Brittney Centers, 325th SFS response force leader and volunteer. “I recently got back from deployment and it was really fun to see the children experience this event.”
This event draws a large crowd each year and this year was no different, broadening children’s perspective of the mission and the part their parents play in projecting Combat Air Power at Tyndall.
The Jr. Raptor event is one of the most popular family events at Tyndall and every year Mroczkowski hears nothing but positive feedback from both children and parents. She encourages Airmen to come out and volunteer and bring their children to next year’s event.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2017 08:58 |
| Story ID: | 233273 |
| Location: | PANAMA CITY, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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