Basic training for new dads

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Latanya Reid
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  It's not daddy's day care but more like a daddy pre-care with a staff of veteran dads teaching new dads basic skills for surviving the months before and after the arrival of their newborn.

The Family Advocacy Program staff developed DAD 101 to improve expecting military father's childcare taking abilities and prepares them for the challenges of parenthood.

"Basic training for new dads is an 8-hour class that is taught the third Thursday of every month," said Capt. Elisha Parkhill, 6th Medical Operation Squadron clinical social worker. "The program is intended to prevent child abuse and show expectant fathers ways to support both mother and child."

New dads signed up for the class are trained on the proper way to hold and cradle a newborn, bonding with their baby before and after pregnancy, preparing for labor and delivery along with managing deployment and coping with crying.

The participants who enroll in the course have some misconceptions about having a new baby. DAD 101 helps answer many of those questions.

Staff Sgt. Steve McIntyre, 6th MDOS medical technician and veteran dad attended the class before both his children were born and credits the DAD 101 basic training course for preparing him to be a father.

"I attended the class and it improved my skills and strengthened the bond with my family," added Sergeant McIntyre. "Now I'm a veteran dad who gives advice to expecting dads about their child's needs using displays and models that are very hands on."

Despite the training, the expectant fathers all come in with concerns about how their lives will change. "I've found that the biggest alarm most of them had was with time," he said. "Such as how much time will they be able to spend with their wives; so usually tell them that will change and how." 

In addition to handling their newborn babies, the fathers in the military have to think about their careers and deployments. 

"Attending the class shows them how to deal with being deployed before and after their child is born," said Captain Parkhill. 

"They also need to know about how to support the mother of the child and what they can do to share the responsibilities," she said. 

Nevertheless the course has a lot to offer for the first time dads with little or no knowledge of parenting. 

"DAD 101 is similar to basic military training, we provide the essentials to prepare them for their newborn," said Sergeant McIntyre. 

With classes like DAD 101 the FAP staff is able to help parents and families in the military to improve their way of life and prepare them to meet the challenges they will face with first-hand training.