Pubdate: Thu, 05 Feb 2004
Source: Stars and Stripes - European Edition (Europe)
Copyright: 2004 Stars and Stripes
Contact:  http://www.estripes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1512
Note: LTEs require name, APO address and phone number
Author: Jessica Inigo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ARMY D.A.R.E. OFFICERS LEND A HAND AT RHEIN-MAIN

RHEIN-MAIN AIR BASE, Germany - After a one-year hiatus, schoolchildren at 
Rhein-Main Air Base can again take a D.A.R.E.

For the past year, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was 
suspended at Rhein-Main after D.A.R.E. officers were asked to take a new, 
nine-week recertification course at a cost of $5,000. Lack of funding 
prevented attendance.

This year, Air Force officials sought outside help to get the program going 
again. The provost marshal office for the Army's Headquarters and 
Headquarters Detachment, 221st Base Support Battalion, in Wiesbaden, 
stepped up, providing a D.A.R.E. officer once a week to teach 
kindergartners about safety, while older children learn how to say no to drugs.

"This is not only a case of the Army helping the Air Force, but of helping 
children in [Department of Defense Dependents Schools]," said 1st Lt. Jeff 
Adams, chief of security forces on Rhein-Main.

"I'm beside myself that the Wiesbaden MP unit would come to the Rhein-Main 
community and help save us money and the manpower it would take to send 
someone to training."

Spc. Amanda MacLean, Rhein-Main's new D.A.R.E. officer, also goes to 
schools in the Wiesbaden and Dexheim communities to conduct the D.A.R.E. 
program.

The program was started in 1980 by the Los Angeles Police Department, 
MacLean said, to teach responsibility and ways for elementary, middle, high 
school and after-school students to resist peer pressure that influences 
them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drugs.

The program has spread, now reaching more than 36 million children 
worldwide, according to the official D.A.R.E. Web site.

D.A.R.E. was developed by educators and is taught by trained officers, 
usually civilians stateside, and military in DODDS facilities overseas, to 
help keep children safe and off drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman