445th Airlift Wing involved in annual Operation Purple Camp

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Campers participating in the National Military Family Association's Operation Purple Camp at 4-H Camp Graham, Clarkesville, Ohio, descended upon the wing July 13-14 and July 20-21 to get a hands-on experience of what the wing offers and the opportunity to get to know other kids who come from a military background. 

Operation Purple Camp is a free, week-long, overnight camp open to military children ages 7-17. The program, which began in 2004, aims to help military youths experience carefree fun while also learning coping skills to deal with deployment-related stress and fostering relationships with other children who know what they are going through. 

Master Sgt. Patricia Wortham and Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Weber, both from the 445th Airmen and Family Readiness Center, coordinated the wing's involvement by working with different units to set up a variety of activities. The first week had 50 campers visiting the wing. With 130 campers the second week, the group was divided in half--one one half visiting the wing and the other half visiting the National Museum of the United States Air Force. 

Some of the highlights of the visit included; demonstrations at the aircrew flight equipment shop and security forces; a visit to the base honor guard facility; a tour of the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron's Emergency Medical Technician school house; and a tour of the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. 

"The kids had a great time at the EMT school house. They were able to splint, bandage and immobilize themselves. Some of the kids had the opportunity to suture and place IV's in mannequins," Master Sgt. Bethany Frazier, 445th AST Emergency Medical Service coordinator, said. Some of the youths told her that they are planning a career in the medical field and were excited to get the opportunity to see the equipment first hand. "I can't wait to do it again next year," she added. 

Senior Master Sgt. Allan Blackwell, 445th Operations Group, had two daughters participating in the program. "Operation Purple Camp is a good program. My two daughters, Leanne and Maddison, have participated every year since the first camp started," Sergeant Blackwell said. 

""I love the program. My dad talks about his job all the time and it was great to tour the C-5 and see what he does," Maddison said. 

Since the program began, the NMFA has sent more than 20,000 military children to camp for free. This year, Operation Purple Camp will host more than 90 weeks of camp held in 62 locations in 37 states and territories. 

"We have kids who attend public schools with kids who have no ties with the military. With Operation Purple Camp, they can meet kids in the same situation that they're in. Some have parents that are deployed and they can share that experience--knowing they are not alone," said Sergeant Weber, who's been involved with the camp since the program began. 

Sergeant Weber's daughter, Peyton, was among the campers who could share her experiences with the other kids about deployments and moving from base to base. "The program's been fun. I loved touring the C-5 because it's interesting to see that it can hold so much stuff!" Peyton said. 

Tech. Sgt. Michael Pennington, 445th Security Forces, has been involved with the program for five years now and says he gets 100 percent participation from the youths in the different security forces activities he sets up. "I've been doing this ever since the program started and I enjoy it every time. I'm retiring soon and I'm going to miss it," Sergeant Pennington said. 

Sergeant Wortham said the overall experience the children had was memorable.
"The campers were extremely pleased, and impressed by the demonstrations of what and how we perform our duties here at the 445th. During the closing camp ceremony, the Operation Purple Camp staff expressed their sincere appreciation of the support that the 445th AW provided to the campers," Sergeant Wortham said.