By David Karas | Correspondent

The weight room in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, has seen its share of students pass through, whether part of their physical education curriculum, training for a team sport or just looking to get in shape or bulk up.

But the space has also a different set of pupils – National Guard service members preparing for deployment.

John McKenna, athletic performance director and associate head football coach for Notre Dame, adopted the Guard’s “Task Force Trenton” unit, and trained its members during their ready year.

It all started when he was approached by a friend, Major Edward Dowgin, who is the executive officer of the New Jersey National Guard’s 117th Combat Support Battalion.

“They were looking for new ways to train their guys,” said McKenna. “A bunch of them started to come to me, and I got real involved.”

McKenna said that he introduced the unit’s members – who have come from both the armory in Lawrenceville as well as the base in West Trenton – to a number of alternative training methods over a roughly eight-month period.

“I taught them a lot of things you can do out in the field, where you don’t have a lot of equipment,” he said. McKenna also donated some pieces of equipment that the unit could take along with them, to stay in shape while deployed.

He worked with many members of the unit for an eight-month period during which they would come to the school three days a week, McKenna said, and some of those he trained wound up being deployed for a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“My goal is to show them ways to stay in shape so they can perform under adverse conditions, and maybe stay alive,” he said.

McKenna was recognized for his efforts in January 2013, when he was flown out to Fort Hood, Texas, to greet the unit for their de-mobilization ceremony upon return from their deployment.

He was also presented with the State of New Jersey Civilian Commendation Medal for his efforts – an award endorsed by Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey National Guard.

For McKenna, the cause is personal – his son joined the National Guard shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“I am a big believer in our military,” said McKenna. “We cannot do enough to help these guys.”

But McKenna’s efforts have not just supported members of the military.

The ex-police officer has spent the past 30 years, including some time while he was on the force, training police and fire officials to help keep them in shape and teach them about strength conditioning.

His “students” have included the past two classes of recruits for the Trenton Fire Department, he said. McKenna also runs regular classes for police officers and firefighters, with some 80 turning out on a regular basis.

“I have something I can offer them, give back to them,” says McKenna. “It is just my way of giving back.”

“They become part of our family here,” he continued. “We call it the ‘Irish nation.’”

He said that he enjoys the chance to expose the high school students he works with to the first responders and National Guard members as well, and to show them positive role models.

His efforts to provide strength training to those who serve, McKenna says, fall in line with a common motto around the weight room and the halls of Notre Dame: “It’s not about me, it’s not about you…it’s about others.”