Jet bus fuels anti-drug videos

The Marine Corps, regarded by many as the highest standard in the military, has set another high bar in this year's air show as it combines its jet team spectacle with a competition benefiting school programs.

The MCAS Air Show has teamed with the Arizona Counseling & Treatment Services (ACTS) to help students understand a critical message targeted for them: Jets Are Hot, Drugs Are Not!

The jet bus, a former school bus outfitted with a jet engine and capable of reaching more than 300 miles per hour, will race an aircraft. MCAS and ACTS are offering students the chance to be part of the action, said Autumn Morga, ACTS marketing director.

"I contacted MCAS to ask about sponsorship at the air show. So they said they wanted to present a drug-free campaign and focus on middle and high schools. So they decided the jet bus would be an awesome way to get across the message."

This is the first year ACTS has collaborated with MCAS. ACTS will donate money to support three prizes. High schools and middle schools can earn $1,000 each, while private/charter schools can earn $500. The school that posts the most anti-drug video responses to a Web page set up for the competition will win.

ACTS is funded through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and was established in 2004. They offer substance abuse service, domestic violence and anger management counseling, psychiatric and behavioral services.

It is important young people find productive outlets to engage in, said Morga. Whether that might be athletics, music and any academic program, it is worth investing in, she stressed.

"We want students to go online and pledge to stay drug-free and earn a chance to win money for their school."

Jen Larson is the assistant marketing director of MCCS (Marine Corps Community Service), the operation that runs all civilian support services for MCAS.

"Our motto is, we serve those who serve. Every year the air show has some sort of community outreach, and this year we're urging all students to just say no to drugs."

Larson appeared on a television newscast recently to alert schools to recruit their campuses to participate but it is students who drive the campaign.

What she is advising everyone to do is log on to www.yumaairshow.com and click on Jets are HOT! Drugs are NOT! That will bring viewers to each Yuma high and middle and private/charter school's logo. After clicking on the individual logos, they have set up a YouTube group with each school's name. The school with the most videos will win, Larson said.

"And we have awards for the four top individuals with the most creative anti-drug pledges. And they become part of the honorary pit crew. The jet bus is what inspired this and those flames that come out of it are pretty intense."

Students selected for the pit crew get to inspect the jet bus before it races and meet with their two-man team. They also get ringside seating for the race and receive a gift bag. Winning individual and school entries will be announced March 24, three days before the air show.

"I think some of the programs in Yuma schools are in peril and they could use support," Larson said. "So this is the incentive of the program. "We believe there's a direct connection between organized school activities and drug prevention," Larson said. "And we're hoping this can keep students off drugs in the long term."