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 attempts to reduce drug use by educating the group and peer-to-peer position modeling.

The group was just one of 6 units throughout the place that acquired the award for their “drug demand reduction attempts.”

The Miramar chapter is section of the Younger Marines, a nationwide youth leadership and provider method for ages 8 via substantial faculty. The nonprofit fosters the mental, moral and bodily progress of its associates, who are usually ages 8 through 18. The plan focuses on character building, self-self-control, management and a healthful, drug-totally free life style.

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

Youthful Maritime units are judged on drug demand from customers reduction several hours, curriculum, and their get the job done in achieving out to the local community to involve friends and others.

Units can enter images, movies, endorsements, proclamations and other demonstrations of their drug desire reduction attempts. The best a few entries per division are despatched to the DEA’s headquarters, and a winner from each individual division is chosen.

The Miramar chapter, which is led by Younger Marines Cmdr. Bret Righthouse of Rancho Peñasquitos, logged in 650 drug demand instruction hrs previous calendar year, alongside with extra than 5,850 neighborhood company hours and had acquired 324 ribbons. The chapter, which contains customers from North County and all through San Diego, was named Division Device of the 12 months in 2020.

The award was introduced at the new Young Marines Once-a-year Grownup Leaders’ Convention in St. Charles, Mo. Leigh Dick of Vista, division commander of the Younger Marines 6th Division of which the Miramar group is a aspect, approved the award.