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Program includes children in PCS process

By Laura LeveringJuly 29, 2021

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sharell Byrd, Army Community Service specialist and Kids on the Move program manager, organizes a display of books and DVDs that children can select to go in their activity bag. (Photo Credit: Laura Levering / Fort Gordon Public Affairs ) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Reed, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, signs in at the Army Community Service Relocation Readiness office. Reed and his children were in Darling Hall on Monday to finish out-processing in preparation for retirement. (Photo Credit: Laura Levering / Fort Gordon Public Affairs ) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Andrea and Carson Reed, children of Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Reed, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, pose for a photo with goodies received on Monday as part of the Kids on the Move program, a service now offered through Relocation Readiness in Darling Hall. (Photo Credit: Laura Levering / Fort Gordon Public Affairs ) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – In addition to an activity bag, children who stopped by Relocation Readiness on Monday also received a container of snacks as part of the Kids on the Move program outreach initiative. (Photo Credit: Laura Levering / Fort Gordon Public Affairs ) VIEW ORIGINAL

It’s PCS season, which means Relocation Readiness staff in Darling Hall has been extra busy tending to military personnel and their families.

Whether arriving to or departing from Fort Gordon, Relocation Readiness offers an abundance of resources to help ensure a smooth transition. Among those resources is a newer one geared towards children that lets them know they a very important part of the process – and a valued member of the Army family.

Kids on the Move is designed to make children feel welcome and stay occupied while mom and/or dad tend to important moving matters.

“I have seen it used at other installations, and it was something that I wanted to introduce at Fort Gordon,” said Sharell Byrd, ACS specialist and Kids on the Move program manager. “It’s a great program.”

Each child who comes to the Relocation Readiness office receives a drawstring bag filled with goodies such as a coloring and activities book, crayons, DVD, and a plastic dinnerware set. They also have an opportunity to select items from a variety of small age-appropriate toys to personalize their bag.

“This is an opportunity for service members to be able to take care of in-processing as well as out-processing with kids,” Byrd said. “It really gives the kids something to do while the parents are taking care of things, and it makes them feel like part of the process.”

Parents are also welcome to take bags with them so the children can partake in activities outside of the office. The main concern she has is getting the word out that the program is now available, so parents should not be concerned if they must bring their child(ren) with them to in-process or out-process.

“The word is starting to get out because we have been getting a lot of families coming in for the bags,” Byrd said. “We would like to continue to market the program and reach those target families with small kids to implement the program and utilize the resources that are available to them.”

Kids on the Move is funded by ACS and is free to military ID cardholders who use any of Relocation Readiness’s service. The office is located in Room 172, Darling Hall. Simply stop by during normal business hours and ask for a bag. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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