Now that it's been some time after the event, and it seems fairly opsec-ly safe to talk about it...

What were everyone's thoughts on the recent NEO exercise?

Aric and I were among the first to process through on Saturday morning (8 am...woohoo) ..and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. Everything was well organized, the lines moved quickly...and the representatives present were very professional and pleasant.

The gentleman at the CES Readiness table was wonderfully patient,and willing to spend lots of time with Aric teaching him how to put on his own gas mask (My now 9 year old big boy is *of course* too old for Mom to help him *cough* cough*)...and I don't know who the tall slender red-headed captain (I think she was a captain anyway) was, who was standing at the comment card table, but if anyone does know her name, please forward it to me, because I want to personally drop her a thank you note...

The night before the NEO exercise, Richard and I were trying to kind of prepare Aric for what would happen there, and explain things to him..and for the first time, it dawned on the child that if we were going to be evacuated that Daddy wouldn't be coming with us. He was very upset at the thought,and that realization, and I couldn't think of anything to say that would make him feel better. As we were standing near the comment table, this captain asked if everything had gone well, and if we had any questions. I mentioned something about Aric being worried that Daddy couldn't come with us if we were evacuated,and this absolutely wonderful woman took the time to come sit and talk with my son, explaining to him that if we had to go away,and leave Daddy that she would personally guarantee that Daddy would be kept as safe as they could keep him, that he'd be in a safe building, and everyone would do everything they could to protect him,and get him back to us as soon as they could.

Those kind words were all it took to reassure my little boy that everything would, indeed, be okay...

So, kudos to the NEO wardens,and staff responsible for the exercise, it was a great first experience for me, and my son!

Dee :)