thedrifter
12-16-04, 08:17 AM
Young Marines recruit early
By BLANCA E. SANCHEZ, STAFF WRITER
CHINO HILLS - They may only be between 8 and 17 years old, but some members of the Chino Valley Young Marines have chosen to take part in the boot camp-style program because they like it.
Regardless of why they participate in the group, once they are in, there is no turning back. They have to work hard to survive the sessions, which approximate the real thing.
"I better see white walls (heads shaved) when you come in here," Vince Burciaga, executive director for the Chino Hills-based unit, told some potential members of the group on a recent night. "When you come back here, first thing out of your mouth is "Yes sir, No sir.' No more street talk."
Burciaga stood in front of four boys who were planning to enlist in the Chino Valley Young Marines unit this month for the first boot camp-like class in January.
"You have to be committed. Your parents have paid a lot of money for you to have the opportunity to be a Young Marine," Burciaga said. "Once you start this, you are not allowed to quit. Your job is to get good grades at school, do your chores and be a good citizen. I'm proud of you. It takes a special kind of kid to want to do it."
Jon Kerby, 12, of Ontario, was liking the idea of joining the group, even though it sounded tough.
"It's strict," Kerby said. "It looks pretty cool. I've been yelled at by my dad, so I'm used to it."
The Chino Valley Young Marines was established in June as part of the Marine Corps League. Prior to the group's formation, many Chino Valley boys and girls were enlisted in the Pico Rivera unit. After the unit opened in the Chino Valley, some transferred over, said Pat Hagler, staff member of the unit and former Marine.
Staff leaders in the unit are all former Marines, except for Ryan Hill, who is a Marine reservist. Staff members include Bill Kruger, commander of the unit and also the mayor of Chino Hills; Barry Fischer, a Parks and Recreation commissioner; Hagler, the city's public facilities and operations director, and her brother Toby Oakley, who lives in Chino and has three boys in the program who transferred from the Pico Rivera unit.
The staff members decided to start up a unit in the valley because there was a demand for it, Hagler said.
There are now 18 Young Marines in the program who finished their training in November.
The program's goal is not to recruit for the Marines, but to provide a program where young people could learn skills such as discipline, leadership and socialization. The program's training is based on a military structure, such as that of the Marine Corps, Hagler said.
"It's not for everyone," Hagler said. "The child has to want this. The basic training is tough. They get yelled at and they have to study and learn things that are completely foreign to them. This is not a place for a parent to place a child for discipline. We do see them becoming leaders and we see the leaders emerging almost immediately."
Sarah Raish, a 15-year-old graduate of the program's November class, said she enlisted because Hill is her cousin and she thought it would be something to do. She doesn't plan to enlist in the Marines. Instead, she wants to be a police officer.
"They yell a lot," said Raish of La Habra. "I used to be quiet and shy. Now I am more outgoing than I was. I used to have really low self-esteem. We learned about taking charge, being a leader and teaching other kids."
On the other hand, Young Marine graduate Anthony Solares, 17, of Chino, said he got involved because he really wants to be a Marine.
"I loved it," said Solares, who plans on enlisting in the Marine Corps next year. "I wanted to be here. I like the screaming, getting yelled at. If they put fear into you, you are most likely not to do it again."
The program is for children as young as 8 and as old as 17 or at least while they are still in high school.
Thomas Oakley, 16 of Chino, transferred from the Pico Rivera unit and began the program when he was about 11. He is a senior instructor for the unit.
"My leadership skills are off the wall," Oakley said. "I was almost raised with their leadership skills. I am used to it. It's all I know. I would have been a slacker. I know I was going to be lazy. I probably would have dyed my hair."
Blanca Sanchez can be reached by e-mail blanca.sanchez@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-4644.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
By BLANCA E. SANCHEZ, STAFF WRITER
CHINO HILLS - They may only be between 8 and 17 years old, but some members of the Chino Valley Young Marines have chosen to take part in the boot camp-style program because they like it.
Regardless of why they participate in the group, once they are in, there is no turning back. They have to work hard to survive the sessions, which approximate the real thing.
"I better see white walls (heads shaved) when you come in here," Vince Burciaga, executive director for the Chino Hills-based unit, told some potential members of the group on a recent night. "When you come back here, first thing out of your mouth is "Yes sir, No sir.' No more street talk."
Burciaga stood in front of four boys who were planning to enlist in the Chino Valley Young Marines unit this month for the first boot camp-like class in January.
"You have to be committed. Your parents have paid a lot of money for you to have the opportunity to be a Young Marine," Burciaga said. "Once you start this, you are not allowed to quit. Your job is to get good grades at school, do your chores and be a good citizen. I'm proud of you. It takes a special kind of kid to want to do it."
Jon Kerby, 12, of Ontario, was liking the idea of joining the group, even though it sounded tough.
"It's strict," Kerby said. "It looks pretty cool. I've been yelled at by my dad, so I'm used to it."
The Chino Valley Young Marines was established in June as part of the Marine Corps League. Prior to the group's formation, many Chino Valley boys and girls were enlisted in the Pico Rivera unit. After the unit opened in the Chino Valley, some transferred over, said Pat Hagler, staff member of the unit and former Marine.
Staff leaders in the unit are all former Marines, except for Ryan Hill, who is a Marine reservist. Staff members include Bill Kruger, commander of the unit and also the mayor of Chino Hills; Barry Fischer, a Parks and Recreation commissioner; Hagler, the city's public facilities and operations director, and her brother Toby Oakley, who lives in Chino and has three boys in the program who transferred from the Pico Rivera unit.
The staff members decided to start up a unit in the valley because there was a demand for it, Hagler said.
There are now 18 Young Marines in the program who finished their training in November.
The program's goal is not to recruit for the Marines, but to provide a program where young people could learn skills such as discipline, leadership and socialization. The program's training is based on a military structure, such as that of the Marine Corps, Hagler said.
"It's not for everyone," Hagler said. "The child has to want this. The basic training is tough. They get yelled at and they have to study and learn things that are completely foreign to them. This is not a place for a parent to place a child for discipline. We do see them becoming leaders and we see the leaders emerging almost immediately."
Sarah Raish, a 15-year-old graduate of the program's November class, said she enlisted because Hill is her cousin and she thought it would be something to do. She doesn't plan to enlist in the Marines. Instead, she wants to be a police officer.
"They yell a lot," said Raish of La Habra. "I used to be quiet and shy. Now I am more outgoing than I was. I used to have really low self-esteem. We learned about taking charge, being a leader and teaching other kids."
On the other hand, Young Marine graduate Anthony Solares, 17, of Chino, said he got involved because he really wants to be a Marine.
"I loved it," said Solares, who plans on enlisting in the Marine Corps next year. "I wanted to be here. I like the screaming, getting yelled at. If they put fear into you, you are most likely not to do it again."
The program is for children as young as 8 and as old as 17 or at least while they are still in high school.
Thomas Oakley, 16 of Chino, transferred from the Pico Rivera unit and began the program when he was about 11. He is a senior instructor for the unit.
"My leadership skills are off the wall," Oakley said. "I was almost raised with their leadership skills. I am used to it. It's all I know. I would have been a slacker. I know I was going to be lazy. I probably would have dyed my hair."
Blanca Sanchez can be reached by e-mail blanca.sanchez@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-4644.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie