In 1993, the National Defense Authorization Act tasked the
Secretary of Defense to establish programs to reduce the
demand for illegal drugs and the Young Marines became the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps Youth Drug Demand Reduction Program (DDRP). An important part of the Young Marines’ mission to Strengthen the Lives of America’s Youth is to spread the anti-drug message throughout their communities.
The Fulcrum Shield Award was created by the Office of the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter-Narcotics 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. This award is named in honor of the five military personnel from Fort Bliss, Texas who were killed in an aircraft accident in 1999 while on a counter-drug reconnaissance mission in Colombia. The first award was presented in 2002 for drug demand reduction efforts
performed in 2001. The National Young Marine program was the first recipient of this prestigious award.