Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 5 was selected for the Campaign Drug Free Award (CDFA) by the Navy Community Service Program, Feb. 17.

The award recognizes Sailor and Marine volunteers who promote drug demand reduction programs to schools, organizations, and communities to address youth on the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of being drug free.

"I am so proud that we won this award because our team put our heart and soul into all of our events, and it was incredibly rewarding to see that hard work recognized on a Navywide level," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Byron Hewitt, NEMPU-5 threat assessment department leading petty officer.

NEPMU-5 has a strong relationship with local community members and is especially active with a local elementary school, Olympic View Elementary. One of the command's largest functions it participates in with regards to promoting a drug free community is the annual Red Ribbon Week.

"The best part for me is empowering children to not only make positive decisions in their own lives, but to also have an impact on their friends and families, as well," said Hewitt. "These kids go home and share what they have learned, so the impact of what we do goes far beyond the children present at these events."

According to Hewitt, NEPMU-5 is not content rest on its laurels.

"We are looking into innovating our programs and pushing ourselves further to see how many more community members we can reach out to," said Hewitt. "Our goal is to reach children in our community before they make poor choices and prevent them from ever having to deal with the ramifications of drug use."

The NEPMU-5 enlisted staff played a major role in the work which resulted in the command being selected for the CDFA.

"First and foremost, it's an honor to be part of NEPMU 5 and to be named as one of the winners of the Campaign Drug Free Flagship Award -- well that's just an icing on the cake, really," said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Leonardo Carbonel, NEPMU-5 senior enlisted leader. "The Sailors and civilians of NEPMU-5 have been the most professional individuals I have ever had the chance to serve with in my 19 years of naval career. The environment and leadership we have in this command challenges you to do your best, and I believe our Sailors see that as an opportunity; and by doing so we are able to focus on what's important and that is to take care of one another and get the mission done."

The mission to help make the community drug free is personal for Cmdr. Shelton Lyons, NEPMU-5 officer in charge.

"I grew up in rough neighborhood, but I was lucky enough to have role models who helped keep me on track, so I know personally the power of positive influence," said Lyons. "It is critical that we participate in early positive activities with the young people in our community in order to help deter them from drug use, which is why NEMPU-5 has made a sustained commitment to provide preventive medicine outreach to our local community partners."

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For more information regarding Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 5, visit http://www.nepmu5.med.navy.mil.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit http://www.navy.mil/.