Tri Fold - Young Marines

Greetings from our National Executive Director
Supporters
Since our beginnings in 1959 in Waterbury, Connecticut, the
Young Marines of the Marine Corps League has grown to
become a recognized youth organization in over 300 communities across the country and in Japan. In 1965 the Young
Marines were chartered by the Marine Corps League as a
subsidiary, and so began the Young Marines as we know
them today. Shortly thereafter, girls were included and our
non-profit, 501(c)3 status was provided.
Official Celebrity Spokesperson R. Lee Ermey
The Young Marines are honored to have
actor R. Lee Ermey as its official celebrity
spokesperson. Mr. Ermey garnered worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of Drill
Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in
Stanley Kubrik’s film Full Metal Jacket
(1987)
Structure and discipline are our foundation but our
focus is preparing today’s youth for the challenges
of being tomorrow’s leaders.
In 2014, the Young Marines formed a partnership with
Madison Rising, Americas most patriotic rock band. Both
the Young Marines and Madison Rising are committed to
honoring Americas veterans.
Partners & Affiliates
We are proud of our affiliation with the following organizations:
NATIONAL FOUNDATION
Drug Demand Reduction and Education is a focal point of
Young Marines. In 2015 we continued that with our “Closing the Gate on Drugs” materials for training and education wherein the Young Marines teach each other and their
peers about that importance. Our close relationship with
the Drug Enforcement Administration helps in achieving
that goal. Further, our work with and for American’s veterans
is unsurpassed by any other youth organization. Our goal is
to preserve the legacy of our veterans through education
and patriotic volunteerism. Structure and discipline are our
foundation but our focus is preparing today’s youth for the
challenges of being tomorrow’s
leaders.
Semper Fidelis,
Col Bill Davis USMC (Ret)
National Executive Director/CEO
Vision
To earn and preserve a reputation as a leader in
youth development and drug demand reduction.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Marine Corps League
Marine Corps Association & Foundation
Drug Enforcement Administration
American Legion, Child Welfare Foundation
American Veterans Association
Combined Federal Campaign
Navy Sea Cadets
www.youngmarines.com
CFC #11954
Mission
The mission of the Young Marines is to positively impact
America’s future by providing quality youth development
programs for boys and girls that nurtures and develops its
members into responsible citizens who enjoy and promote
a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
www.youngmarines.com
Who we are...
The Young Marines strengthens the lives of America’s youth
by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic
achievement, honoring our veterans, good citizenship, community service, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The
Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical
development of its members. The program focuses on character building and leadership and promotes a lifestyle that
is conducive to being productive members of society.
Summer Programs
During the summer months, Young Marines have the opportunity to attend the Young Marines National Summer
Programs of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments, and
Schools (SPACES). Young Marines receive instruction and
training in a variety of areas such as wilderness training,
water-based activities, aviation, science, leadership and
team-building. SPACES activities are held in various venues
across the country and overseas.
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of high school. The only membership requirement is
that the youth must be in good standing at school. Since
the Young Marines’ humble beginnings, in 1959, with one
unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown respectively with units throughout the country and overseas.
Young Marines Veterans Appreciation
Honoring veterans is not just something Young Marines
talk about, it’s what they do! Each year, Young Marines from
across the country travel to Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor and the
home of the Navajo Code Talkers, Window Rock, Arizona to
honor those surviving veterans and their families for their
historic and dedicated service to the United States.
Upon joining a local Young Marines unit, recruits undergo
a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over
several weekly meetings. They learn general subjects such
as history, customs and courtesies, close order drill, physical
fitness, and military rank structure. After graduating from
Young Marines Recruit Training, Young Marines have the
opportunity to learn even more new skills, earn rank, wear
the Young Marines uniform and work toward ribbon awards.
Young Marines earn ribbons for achievement in areas such
as leadership, community service, swimming, academic excellence, first aid and drug resistance education.
We have developed a standardized curriculum that is taught
to Young Marines by senior Young Marines, and we have developed product and information packages available to all
our Young Marines units who are encouraged to take this
curriculum into classrooms in their
communities.
Drug Enforcement Administration
What we do...
Training
The Young Marines “Closing the Gate on Drugs” initiative
focuses our drug demand reduction efforts on raising
awareness of common gateway drugs (tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, prescription drugs and marijuana) that are either in
homes or neighborhoods and are most often encountered
and easily accessed by children and young adults.
“The DEA first met with the Young
Marines a few years ago,” Tammy
Simpson, drug prevention program
manager of the DEA’s Drug Demand
Reduction Section said, “We were so
impressed with the Young Marines’
initiative when communicating with
peers and others about the dangers
associated with using drugs. We
appreciate the Young Marines efforts to educate the community
and increase awareness about the
drug problem.”
Every year in November, all Young Marines units participate
in Young Marines Veterans Appreciation Week, a campaign
that challenges our Young Marines to dedicate time to show
our country’s appreciation and help our nation’s veterans in
their local communities.
Each Young Marines unit has the opportunity to design
their own project that is most fitting in their local community. Projects might include sending thank you cards to
hospitalized veterans, cleaning up a disabled veteran’s yard,
visiting veterans in the hospital, or simply setting up a community function to socialize with local veterans. Young Marines reach out to thousands of veterans each year during
the one-week tribute.
Awards
The Department of Defense has awarded the Young Marines the Fulcrum Shield Award seven times for excellence
in Youth Anti-Drug Programs. The award recognizes military-affiliated youth organizations around the world that
have made concerted efforts at spreading the anti-drug
message throughout their communities.