ANSBACH, Germany Aca,!" The U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Provost Marshal; morale, welfare and recreation; and Army and Air Force Exchange Service are teaming up to help keep community youth safe with a little positive reinforcement.
For the second straight year, the PMO-driven Summer Safety Shoutout seeks to "Reward Kids for Doing the Right Thing," by having military police patrols identify children riding bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates and kick scooters the right way, said Maj. Craig Schuh, Ansbach Provost Marshal.
Since July 11, MP patrols start the day off getting a handful of coupons and while they're out on regular patrols they are on the lookout for children riding with the proper safety gear, Schuh said. "If they see a kid riding a bike or a skateboard and they have the right gear on, they ask them to pull over, thank them for doing the right thing and give them a coupon," he explained. "When possible, we also try to do it in front of parents so they can see the positive reinforcement."
To provide the positive reinforcement, MWR donated 50 free bowling coupons, and AAFES provided a number of coupons for various goodies like free movie rentals, free matinees and more Aca,!" with the promise to provide more if needed.
But exactly what is doing the right thing' Well, according to Army regulations, everyone riding a bike should wear a helmet, and light-colored clothing or a reflective item such as a physical training belt. Skateboarders, rollerbladers, roller skaters and kick scooter riders need to add knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.
While he doesn't have any statistics to back up his assessment, Schuh believes the program did a lot of good last year.
"We saw a noticeable difference in the number of kids out there with helmets and more parents making sure that their kids were out there doing it the right way," he said. "It's about more than coupons-you never know when an accident is going to happen. If people have the proper protective gear on, then the possibility of a serious injury goes way down."
Many community parents and children gave the program great reviews last year, but there are other fans of the program, as well: MPs.
"They love it," Schuh said of the people who patrol the community. "It gets them out there talking to parents and kids, and it helps put a positive face on people who are often viewed in a negative light because of the nature of the job. "It helps people see that we aren't just here to write tickets and put people in jail-we're here to protect people as well."
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