ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM HOSTED

NATCHEZ -- Launching drug awareness a few days early for Red Ribbon Week
next week, the Mississippi National Guard brought it anti-drug program to
Frazier Primary School Wednesday morning.

Teaching students through role models -- three soldiers -- and a short
educational video filled with recognizable cartoon characters, Guard
members taught the students the danger of using drugs, such impairment of
judgment, and about peer pressure.

Sgt. 1st Class Carroll Walker told the students about marijuana and
cocaine, the two drugs addressed in the video, as well as the importance of
not taking other people's prescription drugs.

"This age group, we just give them the basics," Walker said. He said older
students are also taught exactly how drugs could affect them and what the
consequences of drug use could be.

And then there was the helicopter.

The students were allowed to get into a OH-6 helicopter, pushing the pedals
and buttons and pulling levers as if they were really flying

Although each student only stayed in the helicopter about five seconds, it
was enough to leave an impression.

"The coolest part was when I would pull the thing back and I would move,"
first-grader Kathryn Kyzar said.

Sgt. Maj. James Williams and Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy McClellan would shake the
trailer the helicopter was on to make the students think they had really
started the equipment.

The "ride" sparked some of the students' interests in future plans.

"One day, I'm gonna ride in a helicopter," first-grader Robert Drummy said.
"I like flying."

Carroll said the school programs let students know the military is
drug-free and reaches children early enough to prevent drug use before it
starts.

"We reinforce our message by letting them get up in the helicopter," Walker
said.

The Guard provides its Drug Demand Reduction Program throughout Mississippi
free of charge to any school that requests it.