by Nick Delgado

Guam - The Guam National Guard's Counter-Drug Program is hosting a series of facilitation courses for Americorps members and Santuary employees. The training called ROPES (Rugged Outdoor Physical Experimental System) forces the groups to work together and utilize critical and creative thinking and develop self-esteem.

Civil operations administrator Master Sergeant Lisa Taijeron said, "The Counter-Drug Program deals a lot with community base organization, non-profit organizations and one of our main missions is to teach kids how to stay away from drugs, giving alternatives them to doing drugs so these games are important for facilitators, teachers anyone that deals with kids."

Americorps member Alliandra Quitugua says the program is challenging, but it made her consider joining the military, saying, "I was scared before I came here, I didn't know what to expect and just going through it yesterday, my expectations were to laugh, have fun and have a new experience and we met the expectations."

The first set of the courses continue through March 24 at Fort Juan Muna.