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ByJimBurkeUnitCommanderBigBendFLAttractedbytheuniformsoftheYoungMarinesoftheBigBendVincentIrvingneedednoconvincingtobecomeamem-berofourdrug-demandreductionpro-gram.Vincentlaterdiscoveredthathispassionfortobaccopreventionwouldleadhimtoacareer.UpongraduationfromuniversityhewaschosentojointheYouthActivismFellowshipProgramfortheAmericanLegacyFoundation.Theprogramishigh-lycompetitiveandIrvingisoneofonlyfourfellowsthathavebeenselectedfor2014-15.TheAmericanLegacyFoun-dationfostersyoungadultsinordertoencouragefuturegenerationstogetin-volvedwithintheircommunitiesonto-baccoissuesandtobuildaworldwhereouryouthrejecttobacco.Irvingbelieveseducationisthemostimportantwaytoaffectthecommunity.Heengagesandeducateshiscommu-nityonhowtobaccoisbeingsoldtotheyouth.HeismotivatedbyMartinLutherKingJr.strivingtolivebyhisfavoritequoteLifesmostpersistentandurgentquestionisWhatareyoudoingforoth-ersIrvingconsidershismothertobethebestlivingrolemodel.ShemadesureIattendedchurchandencouragedmetojointheYoungMarines.IrvingworkswiththeFloridaDepart-mentofHealthinLeonCounty.Hecon-frontstheissuesinvolvingtobaccore-tailersadvertisements.MygoalistogivemycommunitytheopportunityandskillstocreatechangefromtheirownawarenesssotheyarenotdependentonelectedofcialstoimplementchangeIrvingsaid.VincentIrvingseekstounitethecom-munityintheghtagainsttobaccoforthelonghaul.IrvingcompletedhistourasaYoungMarinewiththerankofYMMasterGun-nerySergeantandisaregisteredadultintheYoungMarinesoftheBigBendinTallahasseeFlorida.FormerYoungMarineSelectedasaYouthActivismFellowYMsCreateADrugDemandReductionBoardGameByYMCplToriGuiherWesternNewYorkLastsummerIattendedtheTennesseeRegimentJLS.ItwassomuchfunImetalotofotherYoungMarinesandreceivedtheMollyMarineAward.Thatwassuperexciting.AfterIgothomeIstartedthinkingofwaysthatIcouldmakeadiffer-enceinourunitasaleader.TheperfectplacetostartwasDrugDemandReductionafterallthatisthemaincoreofourprogram.IcameupwithaboardgamesimilartoothersbutdenitelyallYoungMa-rinesrelated.Iresearchedandcreatedquestion-and-answercardsotherYoungMarinesofferedquestionsandanswerstoowhichwerealsoused.ThenIcreatedcardsthathadPTexercisesonthemsoifyoulandedonaPTsquareyoupulledaPTcardandthewholeteamwouldhavetodotheexer-ciseplusyoudidntgainanypoints.Thegamepiecesarelittleplasticsol-diers.WesenttherulesandpicturestoMr.Lusignanandhewantsustosendhimaprototype.ImsoexcitedIpromiseMr.LusignanIamworkingonitwedidntwanttosendoursbecauseweuseit.NowImworkingonquestionsthatfo-cusontheguidebooks.Wehavealotoffunndingnewwaystolearn.KeepingaWatchonTheGateandEmpoweringYoungMarinesByJoeLusignanYoungMarinesDrugDemandReductionResourceOfcerAsourEspritishittingthepressmostofyouhavesignedyourunitsuptoreceivetheRedRibbonWeekCampaignKitsandarepreparingtotakeonthechallengeofspreadingourmes-sageofapositivedrugfreelifestyleinsupportofrememberingEnriqueKikiCamarena.Iwanttothankyouforbeingteamplayersandforcontributingtoourorganizationsteppinguponanationalscaleandmakingadifferenceinourcommunities.WiththesetoolsweareempoweringourYoungMarinestostepupandspreadanimportantmessagethatouryouthdesper-atelyneedtohear.InaworldthatisgettingmoreandmorepermissiveasfarasdangerousdrugusageweareproudofthosewhoarestandingupandsayingStopthemadness.Andthemessageisreceivedbestwhenitcomesfromtheyouth.Havingsaidthatadultsneedtorememberthatwearetheretosupportwearetheretoencourageandmostimportantlywearetheretosupervise.WhileweareputtingmoreleadershipcapabilitiesandopportunitiesintothehandsofourYoungMa-rineLeaderspleasekeepinmindthatneverrelievestheadultsfromtheonusofprovidingattentivesupervision.WhetheritbeataJuniorLeadershipSchoolsellingcarwashticketsinfrontofastoreorteachingaclassadultsmustNEVERshirktheirresponsibilityofthesafetyofourYoungMarinesbynotprovidingappropriatesupervision.Wemustalwayskeepinmindthatwhileempoweringouryouthwemustalsoprotectthem.ESPRITPage7