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Ten Southern Utah Devil Pup candidates made their way to Camp Pendleton, California on July 25 to begin a 10-day Devil Pup youth citizenship camp with 189 other candidates from California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, and Utah.
Out of eight Physical Fitness Award Winners for the entire increment, Southern Utah pups took three of those eight awards. Chance Arvig of Dixie Middle School, Jake Jevne of Pine View and Sarah Lanter of Snow Canyon each won special awards at graduation for scoring 400 out of 400 possible points in four categories: sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and a mile run. Ben Stock of Pine View High School won a 95 percentile award and Caryn Krafczyk of Dixie High School was chosen for the prestigious position of carrying the Guidon for her platoon and participated in the Guidon Retirement ceremony.
Additional 2019 Devil Pup graduates are Dominick Alamares, Christopher Eagar, Ezekiel Gomm, Brian Jauregui and Jaydon Mickelson.
Liaison Rep Sgt. Billion Johnston led the spring-summer training and climbed “Ole Smokey” with the increment. Hiking up the high, steep mountain affectionately called Ole Smokey (because when you finish you’re “smoked”) is the final challenge to earn the Devil Pup challenge coin and receive the title of Devil Pup.
1st Sgt. Les Covey of Ivins assisted in training as did Jan and William Veltkamp, also of Ivins. Three graduates from the 2018 Devil Pup program who returned this year as Eagles (volunteer instructor assistants) were Justice Johnston of Pine View High School, Seth Bush and Collin Luck of Dixie High School.
All 10 candidates successfully completed the summer camp program and graduated on August 3rd. That makes 103 Devil Pup graduates from Southern Utah in its 13 years of sending qualified candidates to the camp.
Devil Pups, Inc. is a non-profit organization designed to help teens 14-17 from all backgrounds gain self-confidence and learn to take responsibility for their actions.
People wonder “Why the name Devil Pups?” The term “Devil Dogs” was used by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I. The Marines who organized this youth citizenship program chose the term “Devil Pups” to describe the quality of teen who can complete this program.
For more information, please see http://soutahdevilpups.blogspot.com/ where there is also a link for donations for this program which is free to teens 14-17 who qualify. Questions can be sent via the blog listed above.
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