Youths DEFY drugs, alcohol and gangs Published July 26, 2010 By Connie Hempel 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- "Just say no" seems simple enough, but to them it's more than a message when you're trying to DEFY peer pressure. The Navy's Drug Education For Youth year-long program teaches them the tools they'll need to resist drugs, gangs and alcohol. In its eighth year running here, mentors from the Navy, Marines and Air Force volunteered to spend the past eight days with more than 25 youths who participated in the camp. The youths, ages 9-12, spent their days completing a variety of leadership and team building activities that provided awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, and how to overcome peer pressure from gangs. Graduates from last year's program also came to help as junior mentors. DEFY and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, aimed at youths in grades 5-6, complement each other by emphasizing anti-drug and alcohol use. What makes the two programs different is D.A.R.E. features law enforcement officers who to teach self-management and drug resistance skills, while DEFY uses military personnel as camp counselors and mentors. Funded by the Navy, DEFY is free for participants and is limited to youths of military and Department of Defense personnel. DEFY is comprised of two phases to accomplish its mission: "... a drug demand reduction program that facilitates and enhances family readiness to promote mission accomplishment." This year's DEFY program manager, Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Cobler, said the hands on approach during phase one is an effective way to start the program because it influences positive attitudes from the start. "We're not pushing the military, we're building leaders for tomorrow while teaching them how to stand up for themselves and how to say no to peer pressure," Chief Cobler said. While following the program's curriculum is geared to teach drug resistance skills, DEFY mentors also try to make it fun and interactive. Activities throughout each day went hand-in-hand with the program's goals of building self esteem, leadership and decision-making skills, and physical fitness. Participants also learned flag protocol, completed a President's physical fitness challenge and watched a military working dog demonstration. They were drug tested at the wing's drug testing center, toured the fire academy and the Tom Green County Sheriff's Department, and received a visit from Texas State Trooper Shawn Baxter with the Rollover Convincer display. During the second phase, participants will return monthly for the year-long mentoring portion. In addition to briefings, some of the events scheduled during the second phase will include a trip to the Sonora caverns and San Antonio zoo. DEFY camp director, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tessa Jones, said the activities during both phases keep them together as a team. "Pretty much every activity has some kind of interaction with them working together," she said. This is the third year Petty Officer Jones has been a volunteer mentor with the program. She said she continues to help because it's fun and rewarding. "It's a good experience to mentor children and watch them grow," she said. Camp participant and junior mentor, Bailey Harvey, said he thought the camp was fun and is glad they were able to work on learning leadership and social skills. After spending the day at the Outdoor Recreation Camp on Lake Nasworthy fishing, boating and swimming, the campers will end phase one with a graduation ceremony at the Rec Camp at 3 p.m. Friday.
