LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Laughlin key spouses and volunteers came together Dec. 10, 2015 at Club XL on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, to assemble packages for “Operation Spoil the Deployer.”
“Operation Spoil the Deployer” is Team XL’s way of giving back to their deployed members and helping boost morale. Thirteen packages were assembled and were mailed soon after assembly to destinations all over the world.
“If all goes as planned and the packages ship out on time, then the packages should make it to the deployed members by Christmas,” said Sunshine Burgess, 47th Operation Support Squadron key spouse. “That would be a pretty neat holiday surprise.”
As Team XL uses this opportunity to reach out to their deployed members, previous deployers understand the importance of such missions.
“When you’re downrange, every day blurs by and seems relatively monotonous,” said 1st Lt. Hanna Sparks, 47th Mission Support Group executive officer. “Receiving packages from your home-station, no matter what’s in it, is awesome. It’s a reminder that everyone back at home is still thinking of you.”
While the program is fairly new, the idea is to continue doing everything possible to help support Laughlin’s deployed members for the long run.
“The long term plan for this program is to be a semi-annual event, giving us enough donations and opportunities to reach every member we deploy,” said Col. Thomas Shank, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "Although being downrange can be a great experience, we want to ensure we let Team XL members know they aren't forgotten. I'm really proud of the way our key spouses have run with this new program to care for our deployed Airmen."
For more information on “Operation Spoil the Deployer”, contact Erin Thompson, 47th Flying Training Wing key spouse, at (509)-389-9232.