VIDEO
A Significant Milestone
Cal Guard's Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team certifies an entire school in D.A.R.E

VIDEO: A California Military Department Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team hosts a graduation ceremony for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) for over 500 students at The Journey School in Moreno Valley on May 11, 2023. Local law enforcement, CAL Fire, and other community-based organizations attended to celebrate the D.A.R.E. certification.
VIDEO: A California Military Department Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team hosts a graduation ceremony for Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) for over 500 students at The Journey School in Moreno Valley on May 11, 2023. Local law enforcement, CAL Fire, and other community-based organizations attended to celebrate the D.A.R.E. certification.
"This effort took an entire school year to accomplish."

Local law enforcement attends a multi-agency educational job fair hosted by Cal Guard's DDRO team to celebrate the completion of D.A.R.E certification at The Journey School in Moreno Valley.
Local law enforcement attends a multi-agency educational job fair hosted by Cal Guard's DDRO team to celebrate the completion of D.A.R.E certification at The Journey School in Moreno Valley.

CAL FIRE Moreno Valley attends the multi-agency educational job fair and D.A.R.E. certification graduation ceremony.
CAL FIRE Moreno Valley attends the multi-agency educational job fair and D.A.R.E. certification graduation ceremony.

A Riverside County Sheriff's Department officer speaks with students from The Journey School during an educational job fair.
A Riverside County Sheriff's Department officer speaks with students from The Journey School during an educational job fair.

Soldiers assigned to Cal Guard's 140th Chemical Company demonstrate the use of equipment during The Journey School's educational job fair.
Soldiers assigned to Cal Guard's 140th Chemical Company demonstrate the use of equipment during The Journey School's educational job fair.

Cal Guard's DDRO team host a D.A.R.E Program certification ceremony for students of The Journey School.
Cal Guard's DDRO team host a D.A.R.E Program certification ceremony for students of The Journey School.
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – Yelps of glee rang through the hallways from over 500 bright-faced students at The Journey School, a public charter in Moreno Valley, as men and women in uniforms of every kind and color set up activity booths to celebrate a milestone achievement.
For the first time in the Los Angeles district, the Cal Guard Drug Demand Reduction Outreach (DDRO) team certified an entire school in Drug Abuse Resistance Education and held a multi-agency educational fair day on May 11, 2023.
"The DDRO team, also referred to as civil operators, worked tirelessly to ensure every student received training in a multi-lesson program that teaches strategies in drug resistance," said U.S. Army Sgt. Marisol Toro, Los Angeles DDRO team lead. "This effort took an entire school year to accomplish and is something we have never achieved before."
The D.A.R.E. program is a law enforcement-led substance abuse prevention education program founded in 1983. It recently released its new 'Keepin' It Real' series to educate students on making safe and healthy choices, leading to a drug-free life.
This event was coordinated by U.S. Army Spc. Jaalah Love, Los Angeles DDRO team member, who arranged for organizations within the community to bring in role models for the students.
"We have many law enforcement agencies and community organizations here with us," said Love. "A few of those organizations are Riverside Sheriff's Department, CAL FIRE Moreno Valley, Cal Guard's 140th Chemical Company, Too Rise Up community-based organization, Federal Reserves Police Department, and the DEA Los Angeles Field Division."
The event's successful turnout was a testament to months of dedicated preparation, Love said.
This celebration was the first of its kind and has inspired the DDRO team to continue to set the bar high and model selfless service.
Having lost friends to drugs, Love said, "Everything inspires me about this job... for me to be here with the students to share my personal experiences and remind them not to lose hope is really inspirational."
