Harrison Bernstein has lengthy had aspirations of coaching football at the skilled stage. In 2019 and after greater than a decade of labor, he obtained that chance. But Bernstein’s ardour for teaching had developed into one thing else.
He would sacrifice that dream so as to give back to a community that made the determination to danger the final sacrifice.
Harrison Bernstein, the president and founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, started the veteran charity in 2010. (Soldiers to Sidelines)
Bernstein is the president and founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, a veteran charity group whose mission is to present a renewed sense of objective to members of the military community via teaching whereas additionally serving the youth community.
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Speaking to Fox News Digital, Bernstein stated that the thought for Soldiers to Sidelines happened in 2010 after his time with the Washington Commanders, the place he served as an assistant energy and conditioning coach for 3 years.
“I was coaching high school football and a colleague of mine was adamant about helping out service members in the area get involved in coaching football, because the news was just riddled with people coming back from the Middle East looking for purpose, looking for a way to reconnect and to find some renewed happiness and purpose,” Bernstein defined.
“And so it was actually a colleague who suggested that we bring some of the local veterans out to high school football practice and make them part of the team and teach them how to coach football.”
Harrison Bernstein of the Washington Commanders poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at picture day in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by (NFL Photos by way of Getty Images)
Bernstein admitted that he wasn’t initially all for the thought. He was working on perfecting his personal teaching method with the hopes of returning to the NFL.
“The intent at that moment was for me to go back into the NFL and become this incredible defensive backs coach, right? That’s what I thought I wanted to do.”
But after a lot persistence, Bernstein obliged and held a seminar that simply six folks attended. To his shock, Bernstein’s plans for his future had shifted at that second and Soldiers to Sidelines was born.
“The inspiration wasn’t a flash for me. This was something that evolved within me, and now has become my life’s work.”
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Those who’ve accomplished the certification course of have gone on to coach in any respect ranges – highschool, collegiate, and even the skilled stage. (Soldiers to Sidelines)
“Once I started connecting with the veterans and service members and started to see how much it changed their life, you know, hearing stories – I mean, some stories were really deep where folks were struggling with the ultimate bad decision and to bring them out of that and understand that they had a renewed sense of purpose really affected me. So much so that I gave up a career in coaching football at the highest level to spend all my time doing this.”
Over 1,800 “soldier coaches” have now been licensed via the program throughout eight totally different sports activities. Veterans make up 38% of licensed coaches, whereas retired and energetic responsibility make up one other 25% and 27%.
The program is free and is accessible to veterans, service members, navy spouses, and gold-star households. After finishing the certification course of, Soldiers to Sidelines provides continued studying with on-line coursework, webinars, workshops and extra.
Those who’ve accomplished the certification course of have gone on to coach in any respect ranges – highschool, collegiate, and even the skilled stage. But for Bernstein, the most influence will be seen in those that coach at the youth stage.
Over 1,800 “soldier coaches” have now been licensed via the program throughout eight totally different sports activities. (Soldiers to Sidelines)
“Our country is suffering a shortage of coaches, and we’re also suffering a shortage of quality coaches. Most coaches are volunteer-based, there’s no formal training, and unfortunately, many of the civilian coaches are self-serving – they’re doing it for personal reasons rather than just investing into the kids. Some are, many aren’t. But our soldier coaches, who are used to selfless service, are really pouring into the kids. Our vision is to create an army of 10,000 character-based soldier coaches influencing millions of kids per year.”
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Another objective of Soldiers to Sidelines is to make sure that the U.S. navy stays an “all volunteer force,” as Bernstein places it.
“The U.S. military is suffering a national security crisis because recruiting is lower than it’s ever been, and the propensity to serve is lower than it’s ever been. And why that’s important is, right now we have the luxury of an all-volunteer force… Soldiers and Sidelines is here to ensure the future of the all-volunteer force. And we can do that by having the most inspirational motivational leaders, our soldier coaches, in the community showing kids that a life of military service is a good thing. And you will also grow as a person, as a leader, you will be fit, you will learn how to problem solve, you will serve your country – so we’re bringing those values back.”
The program is free and is accessible to veterans, service members, navy spouses, and gold-star households. (Soldiers to Sidelines)
Bernstein’s hope is that Soldiers to Sidelines will develop to work with each main sports activities league, however extra importantly, that extra can be inspired to be part of the program to develop into soldier coaches and, in flip, influence their communities in a constructive means.
“We’re on a path to 10,000 soldier coaches influencing more than a million kids per year. Just think about that impact. It can literally change the fabric of our country.”
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