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    Commercial launches next phase in battle against drug abuse

    OKINAWA, JAPAN

    05.13.2011

    Courtesy Story

    III Marine Expeditionary Force   

    The commercial, currently being broadcast on the American Forces Network, is the next phase in the “Not in My Corps” campaign against Spice, led by Brig. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of 1st MAW.
    Marines from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, filmed a commercial condemning the use of Spice, a synthetic drug which produces similar effects to marijuana, at the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced) hangar here April 29.

    “The use of Spice or other illicit drugs has no role in our Corps. It degrades readiness, and puts other Marines and sailors at risk; and is counter to our core values of honor, courage and commitment,” said Beydler in the commercial. “I ask you to take a stand, join with me, police our ranks, hold other Marines and sailors accountable, and say, ‘Not in my Corps.’”

    The recently-completed commercial marks the next phase of the “Not in My Corps” campaign against Spice use, which focuses on junior Marines.

    “The commercial (is) the official public announcement of the campaign,” said 1st Lt. Patrick A. McElroy, a substance abuse control officer with the 1st MAW. “The idea of the campaign is to empower junior Marines to stand up and do what is right.”

    The commercial came after a lot of hard work and careful planning, and the resulting product meant a great deal to those involved.

    “It went incredibly well. There were a lot of moving pieces, and thanks to the hard work put in by Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st MAW public affairs and AFN, an excellent commercial was produced,” said McElroy. “You could tell that the Marines in it truly believed in the message.”

    Often the best form of deterrence is a peer discouraging the use of Spice, and that is what the “Not in My Corps” campaign promotes.

    “My intent was to increase awareness, and ask the Marines of 1st MAW to take a stand and join with me and hold other Marines and sailors accountable for their actions -- their decisions,” said Beydler. “It really boils down to policing ourselves, and holding Marines and sailors accountable to the standard that they signed up to uphold.”

    Cpl. Roxana Cisneros, a participant in the commercial and a flight equipment technician with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, MAG-36, 1st MAW, also believes peer involvement is crucial.

    “I believe that getting the message out, especially to our younger Marines, is important,” said Cisneros. “I think that it helps when you hear it from someone in your own rank and age group.”

    The commercial comes on the heels of the placement of five substances commonly found in Spice under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act by the Department of Justice March 1, 2011.

    Because of this placement, using Spice now carries heavy consequences.

    “It is a violation of Article 92, and if urinalysis proves that one of the five Schedule I substances were in the Marine’s system they will be charged under the UCMJ,” said McElroy.

    Spice use can lead to a variety of judicial or adverse administrative action, said 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Stevens, foreign criminal jurisdiction attorney, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.

    “Depending on the circumstances, the use of Spice can result in a whole range of adverse actions, ranging from non-judicial punishment to an administrative separation board, all the way to the case being tried by a general court-martial,” said Stevens.

    In short, getting caught using Spice can be a career killer, said Stevens.

    To see this video visit, http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=X55To0uyIHA

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.13.2011
    Date Posted: 05.12.2011 22:22
    Story ID: 70293
    Location: OKINAWA, JP

    Web Views: 142
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN