Red Ribbon Brochure

The ACA receives the
prestigious Fulcrum Shield Award
from the
Secretary of Defense

 
 
 

The Department of Defense awarded the 4th annual Secretary of Defense Fulcrum Shield award to the American Cadet Alliance during opening ceremonies of the 14th annual "Red Ribbon Week" at the Pentagon on Monday.   The award was created by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics as a means of recognizing youth organizations affiliated with the military that have made recognizable strides in spreading the anti-drug message throughout their communities. 

The American Cadet Alliance was recognized for working closely with National Guard Drug Demand Reduction programs where the Cadets served as "force multipliers" by providing anti-drug presentations to other young people.  This helped to spread the anti-drug message, while instilling a greater sense of self-confidence in the Cadets.  The American Cadet Alliance is credited with exposing more than 5,000 young people to the anti-drug message, while representing the men and women of our Armed Forces who keep America safe.

"We are honored to be selected for this prestigious award," said ACA's National Commandant Colonel C. R. Tornow, USMCC.  "Our partnership with Drug Demand Reduction is an important aspect of our mission statement."  The mission of the American Cadet Alliance is "To instill in young Americans, through a multi-faceted Cadet program which is physically and mentally challenging and rewarding, the importance of national pride, service to others and maintaining a drug-free and gang-free lifestyle."  Tracing its history to April 10, 1909, the American Cadet Alliance is America's oldest nationwide Cadet Corps, serving young people ages 12-18 who are Naval Cadets, Marine Cadets and Army Cadets, training in hometown units nationwide. 

The Fulcrum Shield award is named in honor of the five military personnel from Fort Bliss who were killed in an airplane crash in 1999 while on a counterdrug reconnaissance mission in Colombia.
 

 
Shown (left to right).  Front row:  Cadet LCpl Aaron Rossner, USMCC, New Jersey; Cadet Sgt Nicholas Bleau, USMCC, Michigan; Cadet GySgt Andrew Perkins, USMCC, Michigan; Cadet CPO(DV) Joseph M. Land, Jr., USNCC, Florida; Cadet PVT Paul Kerley, USACC, Washington, DC; Cadet CPL Colin Harper, USACC, Rhode Island.  Second Row:  Cadet LCpl Brad Kark, USMCC, New Jersey; Cadet PO3 Lyndsay Allen, USNCC, Florida; Cadet Cpl Tiffany Stanger, USMCC, Florida; Cadet SSG Joshua Kowalczk, USACC, Florida; CPT George Berghorn, USACC, Michigan; 1LT Robert Frankson, USACC, Rhode Island (Official ACA Photo by INST Ron Kowalczk).