Giving back to the community, boot camp style

  • Published
  • By Kiley Swopes
  • a
Fourteen years ago, Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Greene, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, found himself graduating from basic training for the United States Air Force. Now married with three boys, Greene is one of the 5th AMXS PRP monitors, here at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

On June 23, during two weeks of leave, Greene decided to give the neighborhood youths a little taste of basic training. He created what his neighborhood now calls "boot camp". It's a time when area children ranging from ages 5 to 13 come to have fun and participate in the boot camp's many activities.

Greene has as few as 12 to as many as 25 children come out at the scheduled times. These activities are held Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 5 p.m., in Greene's side yard.

"It all started with me and five or six kids in the front yard tossing the football around," Greene said. "One of the boys dropped a pass. I told them the next person to drop a pass owes me 20 push-ups. The next night 14 kids showed up."

The structure of boot camp is established weekly by Greene to ensure safety and fairness for all participants. Activities include kickball and capture the flag, a game created by playing catch with the football and soccer.

"Each game has their own special rules to make it safe and fair for everyone," Greene said. "After each game or inning, the winning team or person does a certain exercise and the losing team or people do the same, only more."

Exercises include running laps, push-ups, sit-ups, leg-lifts, lunges and calf raises. Boot camp lasts approximately two hours. At the end of each day of boot camp, Greene offers a special exercise challenge. The winner is rewarded with a dollar or two, depending on the challenge difficulty.

Greene decided to continue boot camp after his two week leave ended. He realized it was a way to get children away from television and video games and be more active, all while having fun.

"Obviously our two main goals are to get them out of their houses and exercising," Greene said. "But beyond that, we are trying to get them to learn how to work together on teams and to get them to have self confidence in themselves."

Parents of children who participate in the boot camp have praised Greene for his efforts in getting their children active and involved. Greene wants to challenge other Airmen to get involved as well.

"Every neighborhood on this base is swarming with children right now," Greene said. "Simply get them together and organize some safe games for them to play."
Greene also wanted to put out a challenge to anyone who creates their own "boot camp" group.

"Once things are going good, call me and we can set something up," said Greene. "My kids are up to the challenge."