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Uncle Sam Wants You!

© Dale Kiefer

I recently learned about an intriguing organization known as Boot Camp for New Dads. The premise of this organization is that new and expecting fathers sometimes need a little help preparing for their roles as new dads, and that the best way to prepare is to share information with other, more experienced dads who’ve survived a year or two in the diaper-filled trenches and lived to tell about it.

Not a bad idea. In fact, it’s one I’ve long championed myself. New dads need to share their information and support with others coming up through the ranks. This refreshing approach to proactive fathering is the non-profit brainchild of a father of four from California who came up with the idea one day in the early ‘90s. It occurred to him that we represent a generation of men who enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to participate in the intimate activities of our offspring’s upbringing from the get-go, unlike our own fathers. Some of us have fathers who experienced World War II, Korea, or even the Great Depression. They are great men who were called upon to serve their countries in many instances, but were nevertheless saddled with social restraints, which dictated that a father’s place was in the waiting room, and his role, at best, was chief cigar dispenser.

Times have certainly changed, but much of child rearing remains something of a mystery to many eager young fathers-to-be. And so Boot Camp for New Dads was created to offer a forum where young men could learn in a non-threatening environment (read: away from the critical scrutiny of their wives) how to approach the simple tasks and duties of parenthood. Lessons range from how to serve as coach in the delivery room to diapering and bathing your infant once he’s arrived. “Veterans” – former grunts who’ve graduated from training and have actually survived several months on the front lines (they’ve become dads) serve as trainers. It’s called boot camp because it’s basic training. And besides, fatherhood is the toughest job you’ll ever love.

Clearly this was a brilliant idea with an eager market. In about a decade, the organization has expanded into 37 states, and the U.S. military is a heavy supporter. According to founder and chief coach, Greg Bishop, there is also a feature-length motion picture in the works based on the daddie Boot Camp premise. Any bets it’ll be comedy?

For more information about a chapter of Boot Camp for New Dads in your area, click on the link that appears beside this article.

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