Local Young Marines group wins award for anti-drug, healthy lifestyle efforts

The Miramar Young Marines won the Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Award from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The award recognizes the youth group’s efforts to decrease drug use by educating the local community and peer-to-peer job modeling.

The group was one of six models throughout the region that received the award for their “drug demand from customers reduction initiatives.”

The Miramar chapter is element of the Young Marines, a nationwide youth leadership and support system for ages 8 through substantial faculty. The nonprofit fosters the mental, moral and bodily progress of its associates, who are commonly ages 8 by 18. The application focuses on character setting up, self-self-control, leadership and a balanced, drug-cost-free way of living.

The award is named in memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a DEA particular agent who was murdered in 1985 at the age of 37. Camarena had served in the Maritime Corps in advance of signing up for the DEA.

Younger Marine units are judged on drug demand from customers reduction several hours, curriculum, and their get the job done in reaching out to the neighborhood to contain friends and others.

Models can enter pictures, films, endorsements, proclamations and other demonstrations of their drug need reduction endeavours. The most effective 3 entries for every division are despatched to the DEA’s headquarters, and a winner from each and every division is picked.

The Miramar chapter, which is led by Youthful Marines Cmdr. Bret Righthouse of Rancho Peñasquitos, logged in 650 drug need instruction hrs past yr, together with much more than 5,850 local community assistance several hours and experienced earned 324 ribbons. The chapter, which consists of users from North County and all over San Diego, was named Division Unit of the Calendar year in 2020.

The award was declared at the modern Youthful Marines Yearly Grownup Leaders’ Meeting in St. Charles, Mo. Leigh Dick of Vista, division commander of the Youthful Marines 6th Division of which the Miramar team is a element, accepted the award.