About the Young Marines
WHO WE ARE
The Young Marines is a youth education and service programs for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the official youth program of the U.S. Marine Corps and the focal point for the Marine Corps' Youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.
WHO WE ARE NOT
• A scared straight program for troubled youth. The Young Marines program is for kids that want to be good. The structure and culture of our program is not suitable for troubled youth. Young Marines volunteer, they are not "drafted".
• The Young Marines is not a military organization. We do not teach kids to throw hand grenades or storm machine gun pits. We will not teach them military warfare.
• A discount daycare service. Parents should have interest and involvement in the Young Marines. The staff does not get paid for their involvement in the Young Marines; do not treat them like free babysitters.
• A recruiting program for the military. Though former and current active-duty and reserve Marines account for a majority of the staff, Young Marines are not forced or bound by any form of agreement to enlist.
MEMBERSHIP
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 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 240 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and, Germany , Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Young Marine units are community-based programs lead by dedicated adult volunteers. Many of these volunteers are former, retired, active duty, or reserve Marines who believe passionately that the values they learned as Marines had a positive affect on them. It is through these caring adults that Young Marines learn the inner values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Adult volunteers are individually screened by the National Headquarters based on background information and recommendations provided with each person's registration.
TRAINING
Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over several weekly meetings. This orientation program is affectionately called "Boot Camp." The youth learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies, close order drill, physical fitness, and military rank structure. After graduating from Young Marine "Boot Camp", the youth have the opportunity to learn more new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine 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.
AWARDS
The Young Marines is the proud two-time recipient of the Department of Defense's Fulcrum Shield Award 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 messages throughout their communities. The first award was presented to the Young Marines National e Bakersfield Young Marine unit in California.