JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – While managing a high school travel Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team called JBLM Pride, Command Sgt. Maj. Donny Thornton with the 555th "Triple Nickel" Engineer Brigade had an idea to create something that would give back to local communities around the installation. The goal is to help high school athletes with sports training while also strengthening the Army's relationship with local areas. With the help of 1st Lt. Alisa Fallon, they developed the Soldier Athlete Program in December 2023.
The Soldier Athlete Program's goals are to give back to the communities in the Pacific Northwest and enhance the Army's reputation. This is achieved by providing sports mentorship and training and enhancing JBLM's relationships with local communities.
"It all started when I was managing the JBLM AAU team, JBLM Pride," said Thornton. "We came up with the idea to expand it. We wanted to create something where we can run free clinics for high school student athletes and provide them with Soldiers that have collegiate backgrounds in that sport."
Since its establishment, the program has organized multiple clinics at high schools to enhance student-athletes' skills. The most recent workshop, which focused on shooting techniques and dribbling drills with the women's basketball team, took place at Eatonville High School on June 29, 2024.
1st Lt. Alison Fallon, with the 42nd Military Police Brigade, and Spc. Kiara Johnson, with the 555th "Triple Nickel" Engineer Brigade, are two JBLM Soldiers with a background in women's college basketball.
In addition to the drills, they also spoke to the student-athletes about their Army lifestyle and shared their career perspectives from both a commissioned and enlisted point of view.
"I believe that having a good mentor or coach at a young age can lead you down a good path," said Fallon. "For me, I had great coaches in my life who supported me during my basketball journey, and I feel it is important to give back as a coach to young athletes trying to make it to the next level."
As an Officer in the U.S. Army and one of the training coaches, she helped create the Soldier's Athlete Program intentionally to correspond with the JBLM mission. She believes that when you combine athletics and the Army, similarities such as team building and working as a unit can play a fundamental role in teaching student-athletes.
The Soldier Athlete Program is open to all JBLM Soldiers with a college-level background in sports.
When Johnson learned about the opportunity, she seized it. Before discovering the program, she always enjoyed helping others in areas where she had experience. Unbeknownst to her, her views on assisting student-athletes perfectly align with the goals of the Soldier Athlete program.
"My first week at JBLM, CSM Thornton told me about this opportunity and I took it because I had college basketball experience and I just like helping out," said Johnson. "If I can pass on something I know and they become successful in the way I did, it would bring me joy knowing I was able to help."
Although the Soldier Athlete Program began a year ago, it has accomplished a lot in a short time by enhancing civilian knowledge and relations in the Pacific Northwest. Thornton plans to expand this program with more support from JBLM soldiers, offering additional sports training and traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest to provide more clinics for high school athletes.
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