"Who Are You, Really?   Come To The Edge And Find Out!"

[DDR Program]

Story & photos by SFC Jeff Conti

1LT Paul Sellars provides climbing instructions
    

Members of the Washington National Guard's Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) program helped out the Pierce County Alliance (PCA) recently when they showed up with a rather unique piece of National Guard equipment - a towering 16-foot "portable" climbing wall, complete with Special Forces climbing instructors from Company A, 1-19th Special Forces, an Army National Guard unit in Buckley.  The DDR draws on youth oriented talent from both the Army and Air National Guard in Washington.

The Pierce County Alliance (PCA) provides drug and alcohol treatment for the countie's youth.   These kids are in an outpatient treatment status and are in need of an alternative school system, counseling and stability prior to returning home.

PCA has brought approximately 100 kids to the state headquarters of the National Guard at Camp Murray for the "Ropes" program - a program used by facilitators that provides the youth with an experience-based set of activities that promote self esteem, communication, cooperation, trust, critical thinking and much more.  And, of course, a chance to climb "The Wall".

Not only does the DDR facilitate the youth having the experience but they also teach adults the skill of facilitation in a 3-day course taught free of charge to qualifying agencies.

You Can! And he did!

Ted Wiseman, PCA supervisor, said that the children in his program frequently have experiences which lead to behavioral changes even if only for a week or two. The specially trained Guardsmen who work for the Drug Demand Reduction Program (DDR), a full-time activity of the National Guard, assisted the PCA in building stronger relationships between the children in the program and their counselors, and in learning to cope with internal issues.

DDR has appropriately named their adventure-based support program "The Edge."  The challenge they make to the youth is "Who are you, really?  Come to The Edge and find out!"  DDR activities include igloo building on Mount Rainier, rock climbing at Lake Cushman, backpacking on the Ozette Loop, and of course  "Ropes" training... just about anywhere you want it.

To find out more about this and other National Guard youth programs call the
Drug Demand Reduction Program office at (253) 512-8008, or visit their website!