Youth campers visit medical center Published July 8, 2008 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- The 81st Medical Group hosted more than 20 young men and women for a youth workshop June 20. The visit was arranged by Col. (Dr.) James Gasque, 81st MDG chief of medical staff. The program was intended to provide life-skills information to the young people, ages 12-17 years old. They visited Keesler Medical Center as part of the "Junior Life Changers," a week-long youth camp sponsored by the Abundant Life Evangelistic Center in Biloxi. According to Rev. Jason Johnson, program director and the center's senior pastor, the church partnered with the Junior Marines Program to offer an experience with a military-discipline concept under a boot-camp setting. The group stayed at the Seashore Methodist Center near Biloxi Junior High School and participated in nightly Bible study. "The purpose of the program was to get the kids before they became caught up in negative things," Johnson explained. "I'm very excited with the program and hope to continue it, if not quarterly, then annually." During the Keesler Medical Center session, several members of the medical center staff spoke to the young people about their particular career fields as well as their own personal backgrounds. Representative from the 81st Dental Squadron explained and demonstrated proper dental care. The 81st MDG education and training flight staff provided basic life support training and showed the group the medical center's medical simulators. Col. Prince Gilliard, 81st Training Group commander, and Keesler Chaplain (Capt.) Winston Jones also participated in a mentoring and leadership enhancement session with the youth. The youngsters graduated June 20 at a ceremony held at the church.