USMC LinksThe Young Marines youth organization’s Drug Demand Reduction Program is the winner of the 2014 Annual Fulcrum Shield Award for Excellence in Youth Anti-Drug Education. The award was presented on Thursday, Oct. 16, during a special ceremony in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, Army Navy Drive and Fern Street, Arlington, VA.
The award is given annually by the United States Department of Defense, and the Young Marines have received this prestigious national award for the sixth time since 2001. It recognizes military-affiliated youth organizations around the world that have made intensive efforts at spreading anti-drug messages in local communities.
“The Fulcrum Shield Award is the culmination of our work fighting the demand for drugs through peer education of kids age 8 – 18,” said Michael Kessler, national executive director of the Young Marines. “I am very proud, and I speak for all Young Marines and adult leaders when I thank the Department of Defense for this important honor.”
Last June, the Young Marines took its drug demand reduction efforts to the next level by launching a new program titled, “Closing the Gate on Drugs.” The program consists of lessons that help kids learn and practice new skills and strategies for resisting drugs. In addition, the lessons build positive expectations about life without drugs.
“With our new ‘Closing the Gate on Drugs’ program, we consider ourselves the premier drug demand reduction youth organization with national scope and impact,” Kessler said.
The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 300 units with 11,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.
For more information, visit: http://www.YoungMarines.com.
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