CAREER DAY IN `COMBAT' KIDS LEARN PARENTS' ROLE IN WAR.

Byline: PATRICK ST. MICHEL Staff Writer

ROSAMOND -- Seven-year-old Dominique Schaffer spent Saturday morning snacking on military fare, painting her face camouflage-style and playing with a grenade launcher -- unloaded, of course.

While she certainly looked the part of a pint-size private, Dominique and more than 70 other kids were actually participating in a program sponsored by Edwards Air Force Base. Called Operation KUDOS (Kids Understanding Deployment Operations), the program is designed to help children, ages 5-18, understand what is involved when their parents are deployed.

Although Operation KUDOS is a nationwide military program, this was the first time such an event was held at Edwards, said Brent Baker, 95th Air Base wing commander, who helped manage the morning's activities.

``This event has been done by other bases,'' he said, while youngsters behind him picked up their dog tags. ``It's a chance to see what their parents do, and to have fun.''

Kids clad in Army fatigues, accompanied by their parents, registered at the Oasis Community Center, where they each received a T-shirt and got the opportunity to have their faces painted in camouflage colors.

The program officially kicked off in the Community Center's Stripes Lounge, which was plastered with patriotic banners and balloons. As Disney songs played in the background, the young troopers went from table to table gathering educational information along with goodies such as squirt guns and candy.

``We make sure this isn't too scary for the kids,'' Baker said. ``We scale it down, like with the `immunizations,' which are just jelly beans.''

After visiting the various stations, the kids sat down for a series of ``briefings,'' starting with a presentation about combat clothing and gear. An officer then answered questions from the assembled youngsters.

``What types of weapons will we use today?'' asked one child in a two-sizes-too-big military jacket.

``Uhhh ... your water guns,'' the officer replied, to laughter from the crowd.

After a reminder to stay hydrated and be safe, kids and parents boarded two white buses bound for Camp Corum, an Edwards' training site. Baker said the choice of Camp Corum was deliberate.

``Most of the bases (overseas) are pretty remote,'' he said. ``Basically, like where we are going today.''

After arriving at Camp Corum, Operation KUDOS participants explored several stations focusing on various aspects of overseas service. At one stop, kids tried on gas masks and learned how to survive a chemical attack.

``It's weird,'' Schaffer said after removing the chemical-blocking headgear.

The groups of children literally marched from place to place, discovering how soldiers purify water and how troops communicate via computer on the battlefield. One vocal participant inadvertently embarrassed her father.

``My dad plays games on the computer,'' she said sweetly. ``Like poker.''

After the laughter died down, the father responded with a ``Thanks, hon.''

At other stations, kids sampled the MREs -- Meals Ready to Eat -- that soldiers in combat eat on a daily basis, the general consensus being, ``This is yummy.'' Or they honked the horn of a gigantic yellow military firetruck. At one building, which was labeled ``Chapel,'' the youngsters learned how spirituality is preserved even in war zones.

``Even Superman and Wonder Woman need to talk to a chaplain sometimes,'' an Army official explained.

KUDOS kids also entered a mock medical tent, where they wrapped bandages around each other and, in a move that would make actor Samuel L. Jackson proud, learned about the types of venomous snakes common to the Middle East.

One of the most appealing attractions was a blue tent where assorted weapons were exhibited. This was a hands-on experience, because the youngsters were able to actually hold various types of firearms, ranging from handguns and assault rifles to grenade launchers.

This stop was participant Ethan Grill's favorite.

``I learned a lot,'' he said while standing next to a Hummer. ``Like, how to hold a gun and what not to point it at.''

The red-headed kid definitely enjoyed Operation KUDOS.

``It was really fun,'' Grill said.

Throughout the day, the youngsters also practiced duck-and-cover drills, as several ``enemies'' attacked the base. Kids hit the dirt and shielded themselves while the sound of machine gun fire and mortar blasts blared over the P.A. system. Eventually, the all-clear was given, and the kids rejoined the tour.

At the end of the sessions, the children re-boarded the buses and headed back to the Community Center, where they received certificates and lunch.

Jonathan Bernius, who services planes at Edwards, was grateful for the day's activities. Bernius, who will soon be deployed to South Korea, wanted to show two of his young children, ages 5 and 6, what he does.

``It gave them a better understanding of what goes on,'' he said. ``It was presented very well.''

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Nikos Kladitis, 7, aims an unloaded machine gun as, left, Dominique Schaffer, 7, and Kathleen Bernius, 6, watch at Camp Corum during Saturday's Operation KUDOS outing at Edwards Air Force Base for kids of military personnel.

(2 -- color) Tech. Sgt. Eric Grill watches his son, Ethan,11, wearing a fire-retardant suit Saturday.

(3) Everyone took cover during a mock air raid at Camp Corum during Operation KUDOS at Edwards Air Force Base on Saturday. The event let the children of military personnel learn more about their parents' duties.

(4) Nikos Kladitis, 7, son of Maj. Paul Kladitis, looks at the dog tags he got during Operation KUDOS at Edwards Air Force Base on Saturday.

(5) Steven Holland-Pinzon, son of Master Sgt. Arthor Pinzon, tries field rations at Saturday's event.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer