Tennessee Army National Guard puts on Boot Camp for students

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) — One step at a time, a group of seven students are seeing if they have what it takes to join the Tennessee Army National Guard.

They’re participating in a week-long “boot camp” summer program put on by the Tennessee Army National Guard at Lincoln County High School.

“We just wanted to make sure we had something for the kids in the area to do something over the summer,” said Specialist Bree Bailey, a Recruiter with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

She said that it is rewarding to see the students’ eyes open to new career opportunities within the military because of the camp.

“You see a light bulb go off, that’s for sure,” she said. “They realize that it’s not all about getting deployed and going overseas and all the scary things and the stories that they hear….You’re able to kind of educate them a little bit further on what the military actually is and what it does have to offer, opportunities, doors that can be opened” .”

Throughout the week, the students, who range from 12 to 18 years old, have learned basic medical skills, weapons systems, squad movements, and more.

Specialist Bailey said, “Pretty much by the end of the week, they will be able to run a full mission from start to finish.”

On Thursday, a Deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office gave the students a hands-on lesson on basic combative skills. That included foot positioning, how to throw a punch and protect yourself.

“We’re going to be soft with it,” Bailey said. “We’re not here to hurt each other, but just to give them a little bit of taste.”

This is the first year that the Tennessee Army National Guard has put on this camp in several years. Specialist Bailey said she looks forward to growing their presence in Lincoln County and hopes next year’s camp is double in size.