WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- In a small room in the basement of the Wright-Patterson Medical Center, current and soon-to-be fathers huddled together to learn tips on effective parenting during a Dads 101 class held Feb. 29.

The class which is held four times a year and sponsored by the Family Advocacy office here, was developed by the Air Force and localized to meet the needs of fathers at Wright-Patt.

During the class, some of the topics included how to deal with the challenge and joys of fatherhood as wells as practical advice on changing diapers, swaddling, installing car seats, managing crying babies and supporting a significant other.

Dads 101 is not a class in the formal sense, but a support group and brain storming session, which gives dads the opportunity to talk about a variety of issues and concerns they may have about parenting.

One topic discussed was common misconceptions that society has about fathers.

According to Tech. Sgt. Kurt Everest, an instructor for the class, many misconceptions are based on roles that fathers may have played in the past, and the goal of Dads 101 is to dispel those misconceptions. He said that in his family he takes more of a nurturing role and it concerns him when he's out with his kids and people make comments that he must be giving mom the day off.

"Fathers should know that they play a bigger role in their kids' lives than just play time or being the disciplinarian," Everest said. "We are not just bumbling dads, but active members of the household who give an equal contribution to the rearing of the children."

Staff Sgt. Robert Hile, a team leader with the 788th Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight said that the class was invaluable and that it showed he wasn't alone in the feelings and expectations that he has as a soon-to-be dad.

"I'll be having my first kid, and I had no clue how to do little things like changing diapers," Hile said. "So rather than figuring it out on the job and making a lot of mistakes, I figured that I might as well try to learn with other dads who are doing this for the first time."

According to Everest, he hopes the class participants took away from the course the importance of paying attention to their kid's needs, both physically and emotionally.