Ensign gives keynote as program teaches teens life’s lessons

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Sen. John Ensign congratulates Honor Pup Orianna Ellis while presenting her graduation certificate Sunday during the 2009 Awards Ceremony at the Marine Corps Club in Las Vegas. Ellis was the first female to receive the prestigious Honor Pup award and a score of 400 in the physical fitness test.

By Jeff Pope (contact)

Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 1:59 a.m.

Devil Pups

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For more information about Devil Pups, contact Marie Tomao at 285-4142.

Some of Oriana Ellis' classmates at Durango High couldn't look her in the eye when they returned to school.

While many teens spent the summer playing video games, eating junk food and hanging out with friends, the 17-year-old Ellis was training with U.S. Marines and her fellow Devil Pups at the Camp Pendleton Marine base in Southern California.

Before she left for the 10-day camp, Ellis set a personal goal to score a perfect 400 on the physical fitness test. Some of her classmates said she couldn't do it.

But she proved them wrong and became the first female Devil Pup from Southern Nevada ever to hit the perfect score. Her achievement also won her the Honor Pup Award, the highest prize possible.

"I knew what I needed and worked my hardest to achieve that," she said. "I wanted to prove to everyone that I am strong, both mentally and physically."

Ellis said she didn't have to say anything to her doubters. Retired Lt. Col. James McEvoy, the school's Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps instructor, did it for her. "They didn't really say anything to me but they wouldn't look at me either," she said.

Devil Pups, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that teaches teen boys and girls self-confidence, respect and to take responsibility for their actions.

Since 1954, the program has sought to give teens the skills to succeed in life, Southern Nevada Liaison Representative Marie Tomao said.

The name is derived from the nickname Devil Dogs, given to U.S. Marines in World War I. Devil Pups is not a Marine Corps-sponsored program nor is it a mini boot camp, para-military or recruiting organization for the military. Rather, it's a place for motivated, uncompromising teens like Ellis to learn skills at the same place many of the nation's military units learn the rigors of combat training, she said.

It's limited to 600 teens, ages 14-17, from California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. This year's camp was held July 30 to Aug. 8.

The 16 Southern Nevada teens were honored Sunday at the Greater Nevada Marine Corps League club, 4360 W. Spring Mountain Road.

Sen. John Ensign, a sponsor, gave the keynote address and commended the program for teaching the youngsters the discipline and teamwork needed to be leaders.

"You can't learn the life lessons that you really need to succeed in life without some of the things that you're teaching the young people," he said.

"Everything comes from the top to inspire, to set the discipline, to set the tone for any organization."

While at the Marine base, the pups slept in tents, woke up every day by 5 a.m., ran, swam, hiked and sweated it out to feel like they accomplished something meaningful.

For 16-year-old Joseph Gorre, his accomplishment was overcoming his fears, including a fear of heights. He did that when he had to plunge from a 35-foot-tall platform into a pool.

"Before I went to Devil Pups, I would always limit myself because I have so many weaknesses," he said. "One thing I learned from going to Devil Pups is to turn your weaknesses into goals. Ever since I got back, I just face my fears."

Boulder City Police Chief Tom Finn said he sees the result of teens' bad decisions but youth programs can provide invaluable lessons that will last a lifetime.

"The guiding principals you learn in the Devil Pup program of teamwork, discipline, self respect, leadership, patriotism and citizenship will serve you well in every aspect of your life," he said.

The Southern Nevada chapter is the only one with a 10-week training period prior to the Marine camp and requires its pups to perform community service.

This year's class logged more than 500 hours of community service during the summer, including picking up garbage and placing 25,000 flags at the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

In addition, they spent two hours every Saturday morning for 10 weeks running and performing sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups to qualify to attend the camp.

"It's important to recognize the shear determination and leadership skills that it takes to complete this training in order to be selected to even go," Tomao said.

The campers attend the Marine camp for free because sponsors subsidize the approximately $370 cost per pup. The Henderson and Boulder City police departments, the Boulder City Rotary Club, the Greater Nevada Marine Corps League, attorney John Turco and local Marine Corps leagues are among the organization's annual supporters.

Boulder City High School junior Richard Vince, 16, plans to attend West Point after graduation. He said his experience this past summer as a pup helped prepare him to face the challenges of a career in the military or law enforcement and as a candidate for school council.

"It's going to change your life and you're going to learn a lot," he said.

Discussion: 11 comments so far…

By Teaser

8/31/09 at 7:02 a.m.

Suggest removal

"Everything comes from the top to inspire, to set the discipline, to set the tone for any organization."

Jeez, how do you even comment on that? It's self-satirizing.
By Birdiedreamin

8/31/09 at 7:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

look at johnnie boy i slept with my best friend / senior staffer's wife, then fired them when we got caught, then ran to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo ensign...
picking puff pieces...
come on johnnie boy...
let's have a town hall meeting...
shall we...
birdie will be there...
calling out your fraudulent pious arrogance...
time for an ethics investigation!!!
By Birdiedreamin

8/31/09 at 7:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

great job kids...
make sure you wash you hands after you shake johnnie boy i slept with my best friend / senior staffer's wife, then fired them when we got caught, then ran to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo ensign's slimy paw...
By lasvegasmedic

8/31/09 at 10:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

Make fun of Senator Ensign as you will for his moments of indiscretion. Many dignitaries were invited to this event for our local kids, and he was the only Senator to show up. Mr. Reid must be busy dodging town hall meetings and public appearances himself. As for Miss Ellis and her perfect score...call me biased, but a perfect score for a perfect daughter, well heck I am proud as pudding. Good job O, hold your head high and continue to aspire for your dreams. USCGA is in your future.
By LasVegasRocks

8/31/09 at 10:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

By lasvegasmedic - 8/31/09 at 10:40 a.m.
"Make fun of Senator Ensign as you will for his moments of indiscretion."

Moments? Moments? The guy does his best friend's wife for almost a year - and you call it MOMENTS OF INDISCRETION? He cost the republicans eight seats in the U S Senate by hiring his mistress's 19 year old son as a Political Consultant - and you call it MOMENTS OF INDISCRETION?

I'm glad you're "well heck I am proud as pudding" but let's be realistic about John Ensign's appearance. I'll bet not a single kid in attendance even knows who - the self-admitted philanderer - John Ensign is or does. Durango High School must have been desperate for a celebrity.

And, yes kids, wash your hands.
By Bertsos

8/31/09 at 11:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

I wonder if Ensign asked to meet the kids mom?!?!
By reagan21

8/31/09 at 1:10 p.m.

Suggest removal

Are we sure this wasn't an "article" from The Onion?
By vc

8/31/09 at 2:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why on earth would they invite a two timing, cover up pay off scum bag like ensign?
By Gregory

8/31/09 at 2:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Please Senator Ensign, go away.....
By jemster2

8/31/09 at 3:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Great job Honor Pup Orianna Ellis. Your family must be proud of your accomplishment. Ignore the Ensign comments and concentrate on your accomplishments. You have a great future ahead of you. I only hope other young people look to you as a role model and try to emulate you. Once again congratulations and continued success.
By airweare

8/31/09 at 7:39 p.m.

Suggest removal

Poor johnnie. What's a senator to do? Why hell, if it had been just a plumber working late or a helpful neighbor droppin in regularly, nobody would ever say anything.

But a noble, selfless, earnest, do-goodin, upright(!) Senator getting all caught up in questionable ethics/honesty/reliability issues needs to get on with his duties in speaking to the children about the important things, like 'taking responsibility for your actions'.

And of course, he's gonna look bad. But what if he did nothing? He'd still look bad.

What's a poor Senator to do?

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