Patrick reservist coaches college basketball

Master Sgt. Jonathan Green is running a fast break between two careers that would put the Los Angeles Lakers to shame.

Sergeant Green serves as chief of career enhancement, a full-time air reserve technician position, with the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. In mid-July, he accepted a job as head coach of the Brevard Community College men's basketball team.

As if all that weren't enough, shortly after taking the head coaching position, Sergeant Green, with help from assistant coach Master Sgt. Thomas Highsmith of the Air Force Technical Applications Center and four BCC players, conducted a week-long basketball camp for about 75 kids at the Patrick Youth Center. His schedule had him running the camp from about 8 a.m. to noon, working at the 920th from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and then working at BCC from 5 until 10 p.m.

That kind of pace would wear most people out, but not Sergeant Green.

"Having two jobs I'm passionate about energizes me," he said. "Being a head basketball coach at the college level and serving my country in the Air Force is a unique opportunity that can't be beat."

Sergeant Green, an assistant coach at BCC last season, describes himself as a lifetime student of the game of basketball whose love of the sport and desire to help young people inspired him to coach.

"I've played basketball my whole life," he said. "Coaching provides a way for me to transfer knowledge, develop our young people and encourage kids to get an education. That's what drives me."

One person very familiar with Sergeant Green's drive is Maj. Dennis Seymour, his commander at the 920th Military Support Squadron. According to Major Seymour, the two have known each other for several years and transferred to Patrick from the now-closed McClellan AFB, Calif., in the late 1990s.

"I won't say I begged, but I used all of my powers of persuasion to get Jon to come to Patrick with me," Major Seymour said. "He's the kind of guy you want on your team. Jon is a man of faith. He projects nothing but positivity, and that's what he gets back. In whatever he does, he works hard, and he's successful.

"We're lucky to have him in the Air Force, and the players at BCC are lucky to have him as their coach."

Sergeant Green said he is grateful for all of the support he receives from the major as well as Col. Tim Tarchick, 920th RQW commander, and Senior Master Sgt. Debra Levy, chief of military personnel programs at the 920th.

"I couldn't make this work if they didn't allow me the flexibility to do so," he said. (Lt. Col. K.E. Warren, 920 RQW)

COPYRIGHT 2004 Air Force Reserves
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group