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Backpacks help deployers stay connected

  • Published
  • By SrA. Ben Mota
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., --  A reservist in the Air Force is required to be ready for a deployment with only a moments notice. Airmen often deploy to remote locations that make it difficult to stay connected with family members at home. 

A new program makes the communication process easier for the children at home that miss their loved ones by allowing them to receive a "Keep Connected Backpack". 

The backpack is for the children of deploying personnel who have orders to be away from home for a period of time longer than 120 days, said Mike Sampson, the services director and individual in charge of the program. 

The Air Force purchased nearly 7000 of the backpacks and made them available for guard and reserve locations with high rates of deployments. 

The backpack has a variety of items designed to help family members keep in touch with deployed personnel, said Mr. Sampson. 

The idea of the program is for children of the Airman being deployed to have one backpack each. 

The items inside the packs are designed for children of all ages. Some of these items include: a bear, hat, camera, pin, note cards, child's drawstring bag, insert bag, journals, recorder pens, carabineer key rings, two mouse pads, bracelets and bookmarks. 

The first of the backpacks were given to members leaving on the recent deployment to Iraq. 

The first two backpacks went to the children of Master Sgt. Chris Heston, a utilities journeyman with the 434th Civil Engineering Squadron. 

"I really like the voice recording pens", he said. "It will be comforting to be able to hear my children's voice while I am away." 

If you are deploying and are interested in receiving a backpack please contact Mr. Sampson at Ext. 2414.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer