8/11/2019 Camp Defy & Natl. Guard

1/2

Top to bottom:

12-year-old archer Izaak Long shows hischampionship form on the archery range. Longwas only the champion of his team, but heearned the highest score in the camp.

Brothers Yuriah and Yael Valle paddle theirkayak.

The climbing wall at Camp DEFY in New Mexico.

Photos courtesy of New Mexico National Guard

NMNG Help Citizens 'DEFY' Drugs

By SSG David StrobelNew Mexico National Guard

10/20/05, NM A dozen feet above the ground, 10-year-old PaulCordova thought he couldn't move any higher. "I can't!" he calleddown to the man holding his rope and keeping him safe. "Yes youcan. You're already there," said SGT Joe Mangram, campcounselor and full-time New Mexico National Guard Soldier.

Paul looked up, seeing he had only two more feet until he reachedhis goal; the top of the climbing tower at Camp DEFY. He closedhis eyes for a moment, then gritted his teeth and swung himself up, touching the steel frame at the summit. Grinning, Paulreturned to earth and the man who helped him overcome hisfears.

Camp DEFY ("Drug Education For Youth") is a four-day summercamp run by the New Mexico National Guard, manned with localpolice officers and organized and funded by the Department of Justice.

"As far as operations go, my soldiers support the events," said1LT Michael Meador, Drug Demand Reduction director and campcommander. "We've been doing this program for eight years. Thisis my first camp."

1LT Meador said his team of seven soldiers usually operatesseven camps a summer, Camp DEFY being the second one so farthis year. "The kids are smiling, having fun, and learning

something of value at the same time. We're trying to improvetheir self image, improve their lives," said 1LT Meador. Part of theprogram involves lessons disguised as games.

Nearby the climbing wall on the grassy meadow and surroundedby tall pines, a circle of children and counselors tossed small, softballs to one another. Then, one of the counselors adds other ballsinto the mix, balls that were heavier or lighter, or larger ordifferently shaped. After all of the balls pass through the team,Nancy Sanchez, curriculum coordinator for the camp, asks aquestion to get the children thinking. "When you used the hardballs, the different-shaped balls, was it more difficult to catch andthrow them?" The campers all nod their heads. "That's like what

we see in real life. When new things happen to us, we have tomake adjustments."

While the focus of the camp is to affect the lives of the campers,counselors feel the touch of the kids. "I know one little boy. He's10 years old and he has eight brothers and sisters," said SSGLorraine Tapia, the camp medic and a National Guard middle

school mentor. "He's his own caretaker. He's responsible for his own cooking, his own laundry. It's heartbreaking."

SSG Tapia sighed and looked at the campers preparing for lunch. "Some of these kids don't get three square

ard Experience News: More than any other source ...--> http://www.sitemason.com/newspub/dtWzug?archive_month=&arch...

2 9/8/14, 11:2

8/11/2019 Camp Defy & Natl. Guard

2/2

meals a day. They don't have any structure, they don't have any discipline in their lives." A small smile grewon her face. "But they do get that here."

Two New Mexico National Guard counselors are recent war veterans. They say the contrast between theirlast and their current assignments are refreshingly striking. "Compared to combat, working with the kids is acakewalk," said SPC Christopher Stanley, a former truck driver in Iraq with the 1115th TransportationCompany. He pointed out one camper that made an impression. "He seems like he doesn't get a lot of helpat home. I'm hoping he takes these lessons we're teaching him here at camp and apply them at home.

That's what I'm hoping for every kid here, for them all to lead a better life."

"You go from combat, bombs going off, people shooting at you... to this," said SSG Julian Chino, waving hishand at the archery range and the pre-teens getting their first experience with a bow and arrow. "In Iraq, Isaw kids living in dumpsters, out on the street, really gruesome stuff," said SSG Chino. "Here, we're rolemodels. The kids look up to us."

Camp DEFY's noncommissioned officer in charge has watched the camp and the kids almost from the start."I've been working this camp for seven years," said SSG Will Romero. "When I first started, I was a PFC anda camp assistant. Seven years later, I'm running it." SSG Romero looked back on his experiences with thekids and the camp. "Mentoring kids, making a difference in their lives... I think I've got the greatest job inthe world."

Support our Soldiers; click here.

Donate to the GX Guard Family Relief Fund; click here.

10/20/2005, 7:58 AM

Back to Main News

ard Experience News: More than any other source ...--> http://www.sitemason.com/newspub/dtWzug?archive_month=&arch...

2 9/8/14, 11:2