S.C. During her 33 years of service, Bainbridge participated in several historical operations. Most Naval Reserve Campaign Drug Free presentations take Navy speakers out to local schools to show anti-drug videos and talk about the dangers of drug use. At Naval Reserve Readiness Center Portland, Maine, local elementary school students come to the Navy. CDR Victoria Larson, USNR, commanding officer of the readiness center, has orchestrated several school visits to the Portland Center in an effort to peak student interest. We thought combining Campaign Drug Free with an opportunity to visit a reserve center would be an innovative way to capture the students' attention.
Kids are impressionable.
I think we have a responsibility to ensure that they have the best opportunities available to them early in life. The readiness center hosts more than 100 students during each visit. In addition to hearing the Navy's informative message encouraging students to avoid drug use and remain drug free, visiting students are also able to see the readiness center's damage control trainer and other educational resources. I think a program like this can help keep kids in school and away from drugs by making them aware of what it takes to have a Navy career.