When you think of Fighter Jets, you don’t often think of Santa Claus at the same time, but for the children and families of the 115th Fighter Wing this has become a welcome norm. Since 2010, the 115th Fighter Wing Family Support group has coordinated and run the Children’s Holiday Event with the support of many volunteers and donations from external organizations. Often when the families of the 115th FW come together on the base, they are saying goodbye or hello as they prepare for or return from a deployment or training operation, and it’s an emotionally wrought time for all.
This past year, family readiness supported the Take Your Child to Work event, Money Habitudes comprehensive airman fitness programming, and Yellow Ribbon events. In addition, family readiness has supported send-offs and returns for both the 115th FW Theater Security Package deployment and 128th Air Control Squadron deployment, said Tanya Genz, the 115th FW airman and family readiness program manager. With an event like the Children's Holiday party, we show just some of the support that we can offer to the families of the base and it is fun for everyone involved.