Photo By Matthew Hilborn | The New York Counterdrug Program received the 2013 Outstanding State National Guard...... read more read more
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LATHAM, N.Y. - The New York National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force has been honored by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, a non-profit that organizes local anti-drug efforts, for its work in supporting community anti-drug coalitions across New York.
The 72-member task force supports New York’s anti-drug efforts by providing support with specialized equipment like helicopters; assisting law enforcement investigations with military-trained intelligence analysts; and by assisting local community anti-drug groups in with organizational and administrative support in conjunction with the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
The New York Counterdrug Task Force received the 2013 Outstanding State National Guard Civil Operations Program Award during a ceremony Feb. 6 in National Harbor, Md. The ceremony was held during the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) annual National Leadership Forum.
The New York National Guard currently has 12 National Guard soldiers and airmen working with 21 local community coalitions in conjunction with the regional Prevention Resources Centers administered by OASAS.
The four-day forum brings together more than 2,500 participants representing community anti-drug coalitions from all regions of the country, government leaders, youth, addiction treatment professionals, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals and faith-based leaders. CADCA, founded in 1992, is a network of more than 5,000 community coalitions brings together key leaders within the community to address local conditions from underage drinking to prescription drug abuse.
The New York National Guard’s effort to help local anti-drug coalitions organize and become more effective was launched two years ago when the Department of Defense decided to modify the way state National Guard’s conducted their counterdrug efforts.
The Counterdrug Task Force previously conducted a drug demand reduction program, similar to the DARE program conducted by many local police departments, in schools and at youth events across New York.
In 2012 the Department of Defense determined that a better way to use the military skills of Counterdrug Task Force soldiers and airmen was to employ the planning and organizational skills the military teaches them to help local community anti-drug efforts become more efficient.
“National Guard civil operations specialists work alongside and in coordination with the regional Prevention Resource Center staff to identify community coalitions that need technical assistance and training,” said Carlton Hall, CADCA’s training and technical assistance deputy director.
“In 2013, (the New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) and the N.Y. National Guard … hosted a three-week long CADCA Academy. Each coalition that participated in the Academy was paired with a PRC community development specialist and a National Guardsman who worked together to provide coaching and mentoring to the coalition during the Academy and beyond.”
“The unique partnership between OASAS and the National Guard has benefited both entities by strengthening the state infrastructure to provide effective prevention to reduce alcohol and substance abuse in our communities,” Hall said.
The award was presented by retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s Chairman and CEO.
“This award is a testament to the hard work our soldiers and airmen have put into these initiatives during the last two years, and it’s a validation of protocols that we are developing in conjunction with the NGB Counterdrug program,” said Army Col. Michel Natali, New York Counterdrug Task Force’s coordinator.
“What’s gotten us to the point where we are today are our initiatives in New York City, as well as the Buffalo area and the Finger Lakes region, working with coalitions and developing those coalitions to identify problems within their communities and address them in a focused manner,” Natali said.
Civil Operations specialists within New York have said they have received positive feedback from the communities about the work they have been doing.
“The feedback I have received from community members is always positive,” said Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Dennis Sincebaugh, Civil Operations specialist in the Western Region. “They see the need for assistance with drug prevention within their community and are happy to have the help. A lot of people are surprised that the National Guard has a program such as this, and then how much of a contribution we can make with such a small task force.”
“Basically it comes down to community development,” said Army National Guard Staff Sgt. David You, Civil Operations specialist in the New York City region. “The whole mission of our program is to fight drugs, but it’s also to enrich the lives of people -- to help better their neighborhoods (and in turn) their lives. That’s pretty much what the coalitions’ missions are, so by working hand-in-hand with them, that’s how we’re able to accomplish that mission.”
“It’s great for us to be able to receive this recognition on behalf of our soldiers and airmen, not only in New York but nationwide,” Natali said.
Along with supporting community groups, the counterdrug task force can loan law enforcement specialize drug detection equipment, a truck mounted system called “Rapiscan” which uses gamma rays to look inside cars, trucks and shipping containers for contraband, and the use of UH-72 Light Utility Helicopters for aerial surveillance.
The bulk of the New York National Guard Counter Drug Task Force’s personnel are military intelligence analysts trained by the Army and Air Force who work with 17 local law enforcement agencies across the state. These National Guard intelligence analysts help law enforcement conduct investigations using the skills they were trained in and have honed in active duty military postings around the world.
The Guard soldiers and airmen work with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Special Narcotics Prosecutors Office in New York City as well as in the New York State Intelligence Center.
In 2012 New York National Guard analysts assisted in operations that resulted in the seizure of 80 pounds of heroin with a street value of $446,000. In 2013 the analysts assisted in the seizure of 312 pounds of heroin valued at $1,739,000 on the street.
Most recently, New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force members played a role in the arrest of BitInstant Chief Executive Officer Charlie Shram on charges of money laundering.
Local anti-drug groups the New York Counterdrug Task Force works with include:
• Finger Lakes Prevention Resource Center
• Wayne Wellness
• Seneca County Substance Abuse
• PUEDO (Prevention, Unity, Education, Decisions, Orgullo (Pride)
• Steuben Prevention
• HEART Coalition
• Pittsford Alliance
• Western New York Prevention Resources Center
• Partners for Prevention, Wyoming Co
• One Island, One Team, One Dream to be Drug Free
• Partners for Prevention, Allegany Co
• Orleans United Coalition
• Genesee County Drug Free Communities
• Project Runway
• Mid Hudson PRC
• Southern Dutchess Coalition
• Port Jervis
• Greenwood Lake
• Mount Kisco Drug Abuse Council
• Middletown Cares
• Team Newburgh
• Suffolk County PRC
• Korean Community Services
• Riverhead Coalition
• Washington Heights Youth Council
• NYC PRC
• NY Recovery Coalition
• UNIDOS
• Throgs Neck Community Partners
• Yonkers Coalition for Youth
• Nassau County Local Governing Unit (LGU)
• Glencove Coalition
• Long Beach Coalition
• Levittown Coalition
• Jericho Coalition
• Manhasset Coalition
• Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA), Staten Island
• Syracuse PRC
• Oneida County Communities that Care Coalition
• Rapid Response Working group coalition
• Northeast New York Cooperative
• Capital Region Boces (Underage Drinking Coalition)
• Albany Addiction Care Center (Parents Who Host Lose the Most
• Ticonderoga Coalition
• Four Rivers Allies of Hamilton CTY
• Montgomery County Allies in Prevention
• Niskayuna Community Action Program
• Twin Counties Recovery CBO
• Oakwood Community Center
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.13.2014 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 120568 |
| Location: | LATHAM , NY, US |
| Web Views: | 500 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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