The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States and Japan open to all youth between the ages of 8 to 18 or completion of high school (whichever is later, not to exceed 20 years of age). The Young Marines was founded in 1959, by the Brass City detachment of the Marine Corps League in Waterbury, CT. The Young Marines received its charter on October 17, 1965, and continued its affiliation with the MCL as well as becoming 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 Marine program was awarded the Fulcrum Shield in 2001. This was the first Fulcrum Shield Award ever bestowed.
The Young Marines are different from Junior ROTC units, in that they are not part of a high school and are a 501(c)3 non-profit instead of a government agency. It is open to children from the ages of eight years old through high school. Most units require a registration fee ranging from fifty to two hundred dollars to enroll, with an annual re-registration ranging from twenty to fifty dollars a year. Generally, units meet on local military bases or other locations such as American Legion, VFW, Fire or Sheriff Dept. etc. 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 7 divisions, each with multiple regiments. The command is from national, to division, to
Role and purpose:
- To promote the mental, moral, and physical development in its members the principles of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, and fidelity to the United States 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
- Their three core values are leadership, discipline, and teamwork
- To promote 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, including avoiding gateway drugs
- Can receive a higher initial pay grade upon enlistment in any Military Branch.
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 Young Marines are not a recruitment tool for militaries of any sort, combat skills are not taught, and it is not a “Scared Straight Program” for wayward youth. At the same time, events that Young Marines may participate in may involve close connection with public relations aspects of the armed forces.
