The event was staged to help Air Force children understand what their parents might go through when being deployed. Many of the children have parents serving overseas.

This is the first year that a mock deployment day has been held at Hickam. The base's Family Support Center and Family Member Program received a $5,000 Department of Defense grant for the event. It hopes to make it an annual program.

"This is specifically designed about what Mom and Dad are going through," said Cheryl Paiva, director of the Family Support Center. "We want to give them a nice memory during these difficult times. Something they can write to Mom and Dad about."

"I wanted to come because it sounded fun and my dad said it'd be a good experience for me," said Nathan Fetner, 12, whose father returned from deployment in December. "They teach you a lot."

Air Force Tech. Sgt. William "Bull" Robinson commands his charges to move quickly to the buses during Operation Hele On. "They're kind of scared" of the sergeants, one officer said of the kids.. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Boot camp briefing

Their day started at 7 a.m. Among other things, the children went through a number of steps designed to simulate what their parents would do before deployment. They checked on their finances, received legal advice and wrote their wills, had a medical check-up and immunizations, and talked with a chaplain. The kids each got their own dog tag and then received their small-print, page-long orders.

After picking up blue backpacks filled with MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat), T-shirts and hats, they went into an auditorium for a classified briefing from their deployment line leader, Capt. Michael Blakely. The children were told that this 15th Airlift Wing operation would last 179 days.

Jasmine Kellaway, 9, enjoys a lollipop during a break. Operation Hele On included camouflage paint and MREs. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They were so cute in the boot camp. They all had to stand up (in unison)," said Beth Hodge, Family Member Program flight chief.

Marching and MREs

Forty volunteers, most of whom are military personnel, helped put on the event. "We don't really have that much of an opportunity to work with the kids," said medical administrator Noel Unite, who took photos throughout the day. "So the kids that have questions about what their parents do can get a better idea what it's like. And they can tell other kids, too."

"They seem to be enjoying it, especially the face paint and the picture-taking."

"I've heard them say, 'I'm having more fun than I thought,' " said Paiva, shortly after one children's group briefing in the morning.

Hodge chimed in, "And there's a lot more fun ahead."

The kids learned how to march in cadence. With face paint on and packs strapped to their backs the group headed to a rocky area at Hickam that would serve as Kumalani Air Force Base. There was lunch and more exercises and the day ended at 4:30 p.m. with a game of Capture the Flag.