Local coach dedicated to youth sports Published April 4, 2019 By Airman 1st Class Madeline Herzog 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Kenneth Colbert, an RAF Lakenheath community member, dedicates his personal time to coaching children of military families serving overseas in England. As a volunteer coach, Colbert offers year-round skills training, support and organization for community sports, and provides young athletes lessons to use in all aspects of life, with a focus on improving the wellness and resiliency of military children and families. Out Work Everyone, a youth performance sports program, provides the children opportunities to play throughout the U.K. and other European countries. “It’s phenomenal what he’s doing…giving our children opportunities to compete at a high level and get exposure they normally wouldn’t get if it weren’t for his efforts,” said Tech. Sgt. Eric Dinkins, 48th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate General Law noncommissioned officer in charge. “If it weren’t for Colbert, our kids wouldn’t be going out into the U.K. playing these local teams, getting to travel and making life-long memories.” Colbert, alongside other parents, make this program available to youth from RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell. Colbert dedicates 20 hours per week, on a volunteer basis, training the young athletes and planning events and practices. “What he has done is really invaluable and it’s good for these kids to hear from somebody who can relate to what they’re going through overseas,” said Mike Trotter, Maintenance Group Plans, Scheduling and Documentation section chief. “His efforts improve the wellness and resiliency of families and dependents in the tri-base area.” Colbert said helping with youth sports started with him coaching his sons as a way to make up for the time he missed with his family. As a military spouse and veteran, he says he understands the uniqueness of the military lifestyle. “When I came here I hadn’t been with my kids for about three years because I was a contractor in Saudi Arabia, and I was trying to get that time back with my kids,” said Colbert. Colbert played in the semi-professional German Football League for five years, while stationed at Wiesbaden, Germany. His kids would come support and cheer him on while he was playing, and it inspired him to help more with the youth programs. During the summer of 2018, Colbert introduced a football camp here to show parents what skills and valuable lessons he can teach the children. He said he found a way to make time training his kids and others, and then incorporated more coaches to assist with the sessions. The teams will travel to Austria in June to compete in the United World Games, which will consist of multiple sporting events, hosting approximately 10,000 athletes from across the world. “I do all of this so I can feel like I’ve made a difference,” said Colbert. “I want to see results. I want to see kids get inspired.”