By Matthew Coleman
For Coastal Parent

How to enlist To register for Boot Camp for New Dads, or to learn more about this and other childbirth and parenting classes at Memorial Health, call (912) 350-9355.

Behind every good soldier, there is good training. The tools are there: weapons instruction, battlefield strategy and enemy tactics. Most of a soldier's training comes in boot camp and from there, they go on to a productive career in the military.

Now, new fathers get much the same experience - only the rifles and body armor have been replaced with bottles and baby-wipes. At long last, battle-scarred reinforcements are coming to the frontlines of Savannah and bringing with them hope for frightened fathers-to-be.

The Boot Camp for New Dads organization was founded in 1990 by Greg Bishop - father of four, brother of 12 - in Irvine, Calif., as a place where veteran fathers teach "pregnant" fathers the realities of child rearing. The course, which is taught monthly at Memorial Health, encourages dads to ask questions they normally wouldn't pose, because, let's face it - guys don't ask for directions, much less tips on the finer points of burping.

The philosophy of the program is that when new dads learn together, a locker-room type camaraderie blossoms, the guards are let down, and men start talking candidly about their worst toddler anxieties. As a result, the attendees get an entirely new perspective on paternity that they normally wouldn't receive from so-called experts, researchers, physicians, or even well meaning family and friends.

Barbara McElveen, patient education specialist at Memorial Health, says the program is for men only and "only women under two feet tall are allowed." With this caveat, she is quick to point out that Boot Camp for New Dads fulfills needs that normally aren't addressed for an impending father.

"The program is designed to ease new dads into the prospect of fatherhood. Most new fathers are uncomfortable with a newborn, believing they might actually break the child. This leads to several problems: Mom is afraid to hand the baby over to Dad, which in turn leads to Dad feeling inferior right off the bat, and possibly the mother-in-law getting involved, which is another story altogether."

The challenges that raw recruit dads are trained to meet are various and sundry: caring for crying babies and their sometimes-crying mothers, working a 60-hour week on little or no sleep, balancing already anemic budgets, and sifting through the constant barrage of conflicting advice.

"Boot Camp for New Dads empowers new fathers," says McElveen, "allowing them to be the best dads they can be and adding a new dimension to family life.

"Most dads want to be more involved with parenting a newborn, but just aren't sure how to go about it. Boot Camp for New Dads gives them the ability to have more of a shared parenting. It allows the new fathers to teach the child their own values from the get-go and take the pressure off Mom."

This early bonding can be crucial, according to national statistics. In 1960, 17 percent of children lived apart from their fathers. Today, that figure has grown to 40 percent. "The program definitely reduces the chance of divorce and child abuse, in turn reducing the number of possible criminals in our penal system," says McElveen.

Boot Camp for New Dads has taken off dramatically nationwide in its 13-year existence, presently offered in more than 180 hospitals, and the number is growing steadily. McElveen was asked to speak to "The 100," a fund-dispersing group in Atlanta, by Dr. Tom Clark of Atlanta Northside Hospital, and after a convincing presentation, Memorial was awarded the funds to kick-start the program.

"This is Savannah's first run with Boot Camp for New Dads. Our coaching group has nine veteran dads and we hope to gather more from this crop of rookies for our next batch of new dads."

One of those veterans, Greg McGinty, has plenty of experience, practically having reared his own platoon as the father of five.

"It's chaotic, but it's a blessing," says McGinty. "My oldest is 10 and my youngest, two. When I walk in from work, I get hit at every level - knees, waist, feet, and my 10-year-old is pretty tall, so I get my neck hugged, too."

How does he handle it?

"First of all, I have a terrific wife, and that's half the battle."

Smart man. What counsel could he give novice fathers?

"First, let your child know you love their mom - holding hands, giving her a hug in front of them - that gives them a feeling of security that's so essential to the adult they'll become and the relationship they'll have with their own spouse."

"Secondly, you have to be consistent. If you tell them you mean what you say, back it up with action. That sounds harsh, but it generates a sense of trust in them for their father and that trust will be an anchor for them as they grow."

McGinty recalls his own father's comment when asked about his hobbies.

"He always said his hobby was his kids, and I guess I kind of echo that sentiment. We have ball games, practices, sleepovers, and every other activity imaginable. Fridays are our family night. We watch movies, play games, eat popcorn, the works. And if one of my kids has a friend over, well, one more isn't going to tip the scale."

Apparently, Hollywood has taken an interest in the organization, as well. A major studio has purchased the film rights to the group. The film is still in development, but will probably star Bruce Willis as the veteran dad coach who has unresolved issues with his own father, played by Jack Nicholson. Hopefully, the film will draw further attention to the group and it will continue to grow.

Not to worry though, dads. It won't be all work and no play. Boot Camp for New Dads researchers have learned that due to cognitive and spatial factors of a newborn's ability to see, focus, and learn, watching football with Dad is an ideal developmental experience for the tyke.

No lie.

The varied colors of the uniforms, the movement of the players, and the different sounds and speech patterns of the color commentators all play a part in the child's sensory progress. (However, the organization has reason to believe a conspiracy to suppress this information exists.)

Fatherhood is a daunting battleground, no doubt, even for those of us who have yet to find a willing woman for a war-buddy. It need not be a nightmare, however, and thanks to the high-speed, low-drag, barrel-chested, veteran fathers of Boot Camp for New Dads, the baby-jitters will never gain the high ground.

So get out there, soldier, and keep that burp rag handy.

HOO-AH!