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Young Marines

Overview

The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, open to children from the ages of 8 years old through 18 years old.

To promote the mental, moral, and physical development of its members
To instill in its members the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God
God
God is a deity in theistic and deistic religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....

, and fidelity to our country and its institutions
To stimulate an interest in, and respect for academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States and the U.S.

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Encyclopedia

The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, open to children from the ages of 8 years old through 18 years old.

Role and purpose

To promote the mental, moral, and physical development of its members
To instill in its members the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God
God
God is a deity in theistic and deistic religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....

, and fidelity to our country and its institutions
To stimulate an interest in, and respect for academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States and the U.S. Marine Corps
To promote the physical fitness through the conduct of physical activities, including athletic events and close order drill
To advocate a healthy drug free lifestyle by continual drug prevention education programs
Can receive a higher initial pay grade upon enlistment in the USMC

The creed that every Young Marine lives by is:

Obey my parents and all others in charge of me whether young or old.
Keep myself neat at all times without other people telling me to.
Keep myself clean in mind by attending the church of my faith.
Keep my mind alert to learn in school, at home, or at play.
Remember that having self-discipline will enable me to control my body and mind in case of an emergency.

The obligation in which they stand by is: "From this day forward, I sincerely promise to set an example for all youth to follow. I shall never do anything to bring disgrace or dishonor upon my God, my country, its flag, my parents, myself or the Young Marines. These I will honor and respect in a manner that will reflect credit upon them and myself. Semper Fidelis."

US Congress found in the Recruiting, Retention, and Reservist Promotion Act of 2000 that Young Marines and similar programs "provide significant benefits for the Armed Forces, including significant public relations benefits."

Organization

The Young Marines was founded in 1959, by the Brass City detachment of the Marine Corps League

Marine Corps League

The Marine Corps League is the only federally chartered United States Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the United States. Its Federal Charter was approved by the 75th U.S. Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The organization credits its founding...

in Waterbury, CT. The Young Marines received its charter on October 17, 1965, and soon after separated from the MCL and became the US Marine Corps drug demand reduction program for youth in July 1993. In 1975 the Young Marines extended its membership to females, and in 1995 the program went international with units in Okinawa, Japan.

The Young Marines are similar to JROTC units, but they exist on a national level. It is open to children from the ages of eight years old through high school. Most units require a small yearly fee for registration and uniforms, ranging from fifteen to fifty dollars a year. Generally, units meet on local military bases where a building serves as their headquarters and classroom.

The organization has over 300 units with over 13,000 Young Marines and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and affiliates in a host of foreign countries including Germany and Japan.

Like the Marine Corps, the Young Marines have 6 divisions, each with multiple regiments. The command is from division, to regiment, to battalion, to unit, and then a platoon.

Activities

Members march in parades, learn survival techniques, undergo leadership training, such as Junior Leadership, Senior Leadership, and Advanced Leadership. Different schools can be viewed on the Young Marine website. All battalions train differently, so schools vary. Most schools are done at camp pendleton at nationals, but some battalions/regiments,divisions will do smaller leadership schools

Uniforms

The standard Young Marine uniform is the woodland-pattern BDU

Battle Dress Uniform

Battle Dress Uniform is the name of the military uniform that the armed forces of the United States have used as their standard uniform for combat situations since September 1981. It has either been replaced or is in the process of being replaced in every branch of the U.S. Military, though the...

. Unlike the Marine Corps JROTC

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States...

, the Young Marines are not authorized to wear the MARPAT

MARPAT

MARPAT is a pixelated camouflage pattern in use by the United States Marine Corps, introduced with the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform , which replaced the Camouflage Utility Uniform. The pattern is formed by a number of small rectangular pixels of color...

MCCUU. As for dress uniform

Dress uniform

See military uniform and full dress for wider coverage of dress uniforms.Dress uniform , is the most formal military uniform, typically worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; with order insignias...

, the current dress uniforms allowed are Service Alphas, Bravos, and Charlies. The U.S. Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem is replaced with the a gold Young Marine emblem on all uniforms where an EGA is used. On service uniforms, the garrison cover is the only headwear permitted. Marine Corps Dress blues are NEVER authorized for a young marine to wear.

Ranks

As units train differently, some battalions train a week of boot camp, while others choose the "reservist" boot camp. The reservist boot camp is when the recruits attend 2 weekends a month, for a total of 3-6 months. The culmination of recruit training is the overnight recruit FTX (Field Training Exercise) where all the training is tested. The final part of this boot camp is when a Young Marine is ranked a Young Marine Private

Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank . The term dates from the Middle Ages, where privates were known as "private soldiers" who were either hired, conscripted, or feudalized into service by a nobleman forming an army...

. Based on the recruit class, a number of recruits may be promoted to Private First Class. The Young Marine program also authorizes the promotion of recruits with JROTC experience. Based on experience the recruit may attain up to the rank of Young Marine PFC (Private First Class). In each recruit class there is also an Honor Recruit, a single awardee, the Young Marine also receives the Honor Recruit ribbon for this achievement. From there they can promote up the enlisted ranks of the United States Marine Corps. The highest rank that can be attained is Young Marine Sergeant Major

Sergeant Major

A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...

, this is a billeted rank, this means you would only be a Young Marine Sergeant Major for a certain period of time for a certain occasion, this also applies to Young Marine First Sergeant, the highest rank to be achieved w/o billet is Young Marine Master Gunnery Ssergeant. All Young Marine ranks must be stated Young Marine first, unlike in other cadet programs where "cadet" is stated.

Ribbons

To show completion of certain requirements Young Marines are awarded ribbons. There are currently 67 ribbons that can be earned. Every year a Young Marine is chosen for Young Marine of the year. There are different types of Young Marines of the Year. There is a Unit Young Marine of the year, Battalion YMOY, Regiment YMOY, Division YMOY, and a National YMOY.