Children get glimpse of deployment life at Operation Together and Ready Published June 14, 2007 By Karen Abeyasekere 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Fun and education was the order of the day June 9 when the Airmen and Family Readiness Center held a deployment readiness event at the youth center. Operation Together and Ready, put together especially for children, focused on all phases of deployments, and included a simulated deployment line and education briefings. About 44 children, and a total of 108 people, attended. Most of the activities were team-building and family-oriented, to better strengthen relationships between parents and children, said Tech. Sgt. Will Dominy, 100th Mission Support Squadron A&FRC readiness NCO. Activities also included a bungee run, bouncy castle, rock climbing, family scrap book and photos on a t-shirt, and a 100th Security Forces Squadron display of weapons, gear and vehicles. "The purpose of Operation Together and Ready was to give children a chance to see for themselves, and understand, how we deploy," said Sergeant Dominy. "It allowed families to come to a forum and be able to interact and strengthen relationships. It also educated families and provided them the skills to communicate and help cope with every stage of a deployment. "We wanted to provide more family interaction, and gave them an opportunity to spend quality time, interact and find new ways to communicate and strengthen the bond that eventually strengthens Team Mildenhall," he said.