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A joint team of twenty service members assigned to U.S. Central Command mentored military youths at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 23 to August 4, 2018, as a part of the U.S. Navy’s Drug Education for Youth (D.E.F.Y) program.
During the summer leadership program, 10 children were mentored on topics such as goal setting, leadership and teamwork, relationships and conflict management, substance abuse prevention and self-esteem.
“The program is targeted at military youth, aged nine to 12, and provides them a means to receive great mentorship from volunteers about issues kids their age commonly face,” said Chief Petty Officer Kennith Thurman, an intelligence specialist assigned to U.S. CENTCOM and local program coordinator for D.E.F.Y.
D.E.F.Y is sponsored by the Department of Defense and can be hosted by any branch of the military. Mandatory curriculum comes with the program, however each group has creative freedom to teach each lesson their own unique way.
“We’re required to teach the classroom portions of the program, however any activity we put along with the lessons are completely up to our team,” said Thurman. “For example we incorporated marching and a step show to help with teamwork.”
When outside the classroom, the youth members practiced marching and prepared for the Presidential Fitness Test.
“The plan is to instill a sense of leadership in them at a young age,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Tiffany Brooks, an administrative assistant assigned to U.S. CENTCOM, and a D.E.F.Y. mentor. “We know they’re familiar with the topics we teach, but by reinforcing them with the knowledge of how and when to say ‘no,’ we’re helping to shape them to become great leaders.”
Children learn foundational skills throughout the summer course. Once complete, they’re a part of a yearlong program, meeting once a month to discuss topics more in depth.
“After the kids complete the summer leadership course, and participate in the yearlong portion, they graduate from D.E.F.Y., and we expect them to share what they learned with their peers,” said Brooks
Master Sgt. Darren Fletcher, the senior enlisted leader, joint targeting department assigned to U.S. CENTCOM, enrolled his son Julien after hearing about the opportunity at a family day.
"After hearing about the program, I thought it sounded similar to programs when I was a kid, but better," said Fletcher. "Julien has usually been shy, but he took on a leadership role and came out of his comfort zone.
"He's told me he looks forward to the monthly Saturday meetings and cannot wait to graduate."
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2018 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 288547 |
| Location: | TAMPA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MacDill youth learn to “defy” negativity, peer pressure, by SSgt Adam Shanks, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
