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

The Miramar Youthful Marines received the Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Award from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The award acknowledges the youth group’s endeavours to reduce drug use by educating the group and peer-to-peer part modeling.

The team was a single of 6 models throughout the place that received the award for their “drug need reduction endeavours.”

The Miramar chapter is element of the Younger Marines, a nationwide youth leadership and services method for ages 8 by substantial school. The nonprofit fosters the psychological, moral and actual physical growth of its associates, who are usually ages 8 by means of 18. The program focuses on character setting up, self-discipline, leadership and a healthier, drug-free of charge life-style.

The award is named in memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a DEA special agent who was murdered in 1985 at the age of 37. Camarena experienced served in the Maritime Corps ahead of becoming a member of the DEA.

Youthful Maritime models are judged on drug demand reduction hours, curriculum, and their operate in reaching out to the group to include peers and other people.

Units can enter pics, films, endorsements, proclamations and other demonstrations of their drug demand reduction attempts. The most effective a few entries for every division are despatched to the DEA’s headquarters, and a winner from every division is picked.

The Miramar chapter, which is led by Young Marines Cmdr. Bret Righthouse of Rancho Peñasquitos, logged in 650 drug demand instruction hours last calendar year, along with a lot more than 5,850 neighborhood assistance hrs and had earned 324 ribbons. The chapter, which features customers from North County and in the course of San Diego, was named Division Device of the Yr in 2020.

The award was declared at the new Younger Marines Annual Grownup Leaders’ Meeting in St. Charles, Mo. Leigh Dick of Vista, division commander of the Younger Marines 6th Division of which the Miramar team is a component, approved the award.