On a hot and humid 99-degree day in suburban Lake Forest, the Chicago Bears welcomed about 100 locally based military service members, many of whom had just recently finished basic training from the nearby Naval Station Great Lakes.
The first-ever Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp was co-hosted by the USAA, and it took place inside the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for about 50 sailors as they went through NFL Combine-style drills such as the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone shuttle, receiving gauntlet, and the quarterback arm challenge.