Harrison Bernstein has been Soccer Coaching At the professional level, he finally got that opportunity in 2019, after more than a decade of playing for the team, but Bernstein’s passion for coaching had evolved into something else.
He sacrificed that dream to give back to the community for which he decided to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Harrison Bernstein, president and founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, founded the veterans charity in 2010. (The soldiers move to the sidelines.)
Bernstein is president and founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, a veterans charity whose mission is to give veteran members a renewed sense of purpose. Military Community Through coaching and through serving the youth community.
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Bernstein told Fox News Digital that the idea for Soldiers to Sidelines came about after he attended the United States Military Academy in 2010. Washington’s commanders, There he served as assistant strength and conditioning coach for three years.
“I was a high school football coach and one of my colleagues was really passionate about helping military personnel in the area get involved in coaching football because there was a lot of news out there about people coming back from the Middle East looking for purpose, looking for ways to reconnect and find new happiness and purpose,” Bernstein explained.
“So it was actually a colleague who suggested we take some local veterans to high school football practice and teach them how to coach football as part of the team.”
Washington Commanders player Harrison Bernstein poses for his 2009 NFL headshot during photo day in Landover, Maryland. (Photo: (NFL Photo via Getty Images)
Bernstein admitted he wasn’t initially interested — he wanted to get back on the team and hone his coaching skills. NFL.
“My intention at that point was to go back to the NFL and be a great defensive backs coach, right? That’s what I wanted to do.”
But after much persistence, Bernstein agreed and organized a seminar attended by only six people. Amazingly, Bernstein’s future plans changed at that moment. Soldiers on the sidelines born.
“For me, that inspiration wasn’t just a momentary thing. It’s something that’s evolved within me and is now my life’s work.”
Soldier-in-training receives more than $1 million in college scholarships from U.S. Army at NFL game
Those who complete the certification process go on to coach at all levels, from high school, college and even the professional level. (The soldiers move to the sidelines.)
“After interacting with veterans and military members and seeing how much of a difference it has made in their lives, listening to their stories — some really deep stories, people struggling with the ultimate poor decisions — and understanding how to bring them out of that and have a renewed sense of purpose really had a big impact on me. It had such an impact that I decided to give up a career as a football coach at the highest level and devote my full time to this.”
Currently, more than 1,800 “Soldier Coaches” across eight different sports have been certified through the program. Veterans make up 38 percent of the certified coaches, while retired and active duty military make up 25 percent and 27 percent, respectively.
The program is free and available to veterans, active duty military, military spouses and Gold Star families. After completing the certification process, Soldiers to Sidelines offers continuing learning through online courses, webinars, workshops and more.
Those who have completed the certification process have gone on to coach at all levels, from high school, college and even the professional level, but for Bernstein, it’s those coaching at the youth level who have seen the greatest impact.
Currently, more than 1,800 “Soldier Coaches” across eight different sports have been certified through the program. (The soldiers move to the sidelines.)
“Our nation is suffering from a coaching shortage, but also a shortage of quality coaches. Most of the coaches are volunteer-based, with no formal training, and unfortunately many of the civilian coaches are selfish. They coach for personal reasons rather than investing in the kids. Some may be, but many are not. But our Soldier-coaches, who are accustomed to selfless service, are truly committed to the kids. Our vision is to create an army of 10,000 character-based Soldier-coaches who will impact millions of kids each year.”
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Another goal of Soldiers to Sidelines is to ensure that the U.S. military remains, in Bernstein’s words, “an all-volunteer military.”
“The U.S. military is facing a national security crisis. Hiring is declining Military service has never been more demanding, and the motivation to serve has never been lower. And why that matters is because right now we have the luxury of an all-volunteer military. Soldiers and Sidelines exists to secure the future of an all-volunteer military. And we can do that by putting the most inspiring, motivating leaders — soldier coaches — in our communities and teaching our kids that military life is good. And you grow as a person, as a leader, you get healthier, you learn how to problem solve, and you serve your country. So we’re bringing those values back.”
The program is free and available to veterans, active duty military, military spouses and Gold Star families. (The soldiers move to the sidelines.)
Bernstein’s hope is that Soldiers to Sidelines can grow to the point where it can work with every major sports league, but more importantly, that more people will get involved in the program and become Soldier coaches, which will in turn have a positive impact on their communities.
“We’re on a path to have 10,000 Soldier-coaches impacting over a million kids a year. Think about that impact. It could literally change the fabric of our country.”
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