Simulated deployment puts family members through the paces Published Nov. 22, 2011 By Tim Flack 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- More than 80 community members "deployed" from Grand Forks on Nov. 19 to help fight the war against drugs. The deployment for Operation Defy was simulated, a unique way to explain the complex process to the families of active-duty troops who actually deploy from the base year-round. Event organizer Master Sgt. Allison Weeks said the family deployment line was sponsored by Integrated Delivery Systems, a combined group of "helping agencies," on the base. The goal, Weeks explained, was to offer the community, especially the children, a chance to experience the process firsthand and to build community ties. It was held in conjunction with Month of the Military Child. "What better way to celebrate the uniqueness of the military family," Weeks explained. Participants were broken into groups - called chalks - and went through the simulated deployment line, walking through the same steps troops take when deploying. They were given medical and dental clearances and received finance, intelligence and weather briefings. "It mirrored the active-duty deployment experience, but it was obviously much more fun," Weeks said. Each chalk was bussed to various locations on the base, and each received a videotaped briefing from 319th Air Base Wing commander Col. Tim Bush. "Good morning warriors ... you've been selected for a very, very important and special mission for your nation," Bush said while wearing a helmet and protective gear. Bush told them they would be deployed to Forward Operating Base NoDu - for No Drug Use. "Drugs are a threat against our nation and the youth of our country," Bush said. He explained that participants should pay close attention as they went through the deployment process, and that they would be on the front lines. In addition to the briefings, participants could wear their own combat gear, take pictures in a humvee, negotiate a low-crawl obstacle course and enjoy a military working dog demonstration. At the end of the 90-minute deployment, each chalk was welcomed home with a typical homecoming celebration. Weeks said that the experience will help children better understand if a family member deploys. "Everybody that went through had positives to say," Weeks said. "The whole point of our event was to get the family together ... build that community."