Operation Physical Education is an award winning program to bring Veterans and their stories into the physical education curriculum. There are two components Follow in the Footsteps and Boot Camps. Follow in the Footsteps gives students the chance to walk in the footsteps of a senior war hero and follow their story with pictures and videos. The Boot Camps series provides the opportunity to learn about the draft and the different branches of the military, all while getting in shape!

Look below to explore the resources.

Follow in the Footsteps

Kids are often told to imagine what it would be like to walk in someone else’s footsteps. Thanks to this unique PE program, students now have the chance to walk in the footsteps of a senior war hero. Learn more about these veterans through their words and period news footage. Discover how teachers and students can track the miles they walk (or run) throughout the year and compare it to those traveled by these honored veterans.

John Ullinskey: World War II Navy

John Ullinskey enlisted in the Navy during WWII. During his service he traveled over 34,887 miles. He was present at Operation Overlord and the invasion of Southern France, traveled through the Panama Canal, participated in the Battle for Okinawa, and survived a typhoon.

Click the button below to follow Mr. Ullinskey’s footsteps.

WWII VETERAN JOHN ULLINSKEY

Harold C. Johnson: World War II Army

Harold C. Johnson served in the Army during WWII. During his service he traveled over 14,866 miles. He began in Casablanca, received a Purple Heart at Anzio Beach, received a second Purple Heart during Operation Market Garden, participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland Campaign, and was present at the liberation of the Wobbelin Concentration Camp .

Click the button below to follow Mr. Johnson’s footsteps.

WWII VETERAN HAROLD C. JOHNSON

Weyman Edwards: World War II Army

Weyman Edwards served in the Army during WWII. During his service he traveled over 14,260 miles. He started in Morocco, was torpedoed during transport through Italy, experienced the aftermath of the Battle of Rapido River, participated in the Battle of Monte Cassino, was part of Operation Dragoon, and spent the summer in Pforzheim, Germany before heading home.

Click the button below to follow Mr. Edward’s footsteps.

WWII VETERAN WEYMAN EDWARDS

Boot Camp PE Project

Discover how PE teachers can create a fun and engaging experience for students as they learn about the draft and the different branches of the military, all while getting in shape. Students can compete against one another and against branches to see who can accumulate the most points. Each branch competes in four different tests. The team with the most points wins.

Teachers are given materials and a structure to follow for the challenge.