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thedrifter
05-02-05, 03:09 PM
Kids get taste of Marine Corps at World Financial Center in NYC
Submitted by: New York City Public Affairs
Story Identification #: 2005429104448
Story by Sgt. Beth Zimmerman



NEW YORK (April 29, 2005) -- A small, 9-year-old girl at the corner of a long table raised her hand patiently and waited for the Marine to call on her. Then, in a quiet voice she asked the Marine in front of her, "do you ever get scared?"

"Sure," nonchalantly replied Sgt. Cavin Vaughan, who is an active reservist with Marine Aircraft Group 49, Detachment B, in Newburgh, N.Y.

Vaughan paused for a moment before he continued. "Weren't you scared on your first day of school?" As the girl nodded, he continued. "But, you had your friends and classmates to be there with you," he said. "We have other Marines we can depend on no matter what."

Marines from MAG-49, Det. B, "invaded" the World Financial Center for Deloitte & Touche's annual "Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day" in lower Manhattan Thursday. For the second year in a row, the Marines spent the day teaching kids, who ranged in age from nine to 15 years, about the Corps.

"It was amazing how much they actually knew before we got here," said Sgt. Lawrence Cognato, who is a reserve Marine with MAG-49, Det. B, and a New York City police officer. "But it was motivating to see how much they care (about Marines)."

"I was amazed at how the kids reacted to the Marines," said Filar Endara, who is an assistant in Deloitte & Touche's Valuation Services section at the WFC. "They asked a lot of questions," she said. "And, the Marines were able to answer all of them"

According to Joe Delaney, who is one of Deloitte & Touche's directors, Marines fit right into the busy day at the WFC .

"One of the challenges we had was to find presentations to interest and motivate the children," said Delaney. "The Marines did exactly that, and they did it so professionally."

The Marines focused on a variety of topics to bring the kids onto the Marine Corps level, including jobs, travel, and discipline in the Corps. They also worked some interactive training.

"I learned how to go to the position of attention," said 10-year-old Gabriel Vargas, a fifth grader from Brooklyn. "I thought it was like this," he said with a hasty demonstration. "But it was really like this," he said as he quickly corrected himself.

"I think this made them connect with the fact that the people serving overseas (in Iraq) are human," said Endara. "It was good for them to learn more about what you do."

Ednara continued, "They now see [Marines] are just like we are," she said. "And that even Marines could be scared sometimes too, just like us."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2005429105432/$file/pushup_low.jpg

A student from the 9 & 10-year-old group at Deloitte & Touche’s “Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day” prepares to try two Marine Corps pushups with Cpl. Roman Podwinski. Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 49, Detachment Bravo, Newburgh, N.Y., taught students about the Marine Corps at the World Financial Center. Photo by: Sgt. Beth Zimmerman

The Drifter's Wife

Ellie

thedrifter
05-21-05, 06:35 AM
Young Marines learn real military morals

Rebeca Martinez
May 21, 2005

They respond to commands. They salute. They have an official rank. They're like Marines, but they're kids.

A new batch of Young Marine Corps graduated its first class of

recruits Friday. The corps, which broke off this year from the Young Marines at Ft. Lupton's Buckley Air Force, graduated a class of 10 boys and one girl.

Wearing fatigues for the first time, the kids, most of them ages 9-12, stood under the hot sun for an hour during their graduation ceremonies.

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the national anthem and saying an

opening prayer each of the youngsters received laces for their boots, dog tags and their first ribbon.

An offshoot of the Marines, the Young Marines are trained during a 13-week program in which they learn marching skills, etiquette and morals. Every week they participate in four hours worth of drills. One challenge required them to perform their regular duties with only two to three hours of sleep the night before.

Beyond that, the kids are also required to study at home, about half an hour every day, in order to make sure they are ready for next week's class.

"It sounds like Boy Scouts on steroids" said Annette Grotelueschen, whose 10-year-old son, Jackson, graduated. Grotelueschen said that although she was skeptical at first about the time commitment of the program, she now thinks it's well worth the effort.

"There's been an incredible amount of changes in these boys," Grotelueschen said. "There's a lot of growing up that's gone on here."

Her son agrees. He said his favorite part of being a Young Marine is that he learned self-discipline. Jackson said he gets tired sometimes but doesn't mind.

Heidi Faust enrolled her 9-year-old son in the program because she appreciated the positive reinforcement and structure of the program. Like Grotelueschen, Faust feels her son learned good values, citing an article he wrote about community service as an example of the standards the program teaches.

Nicholas Faust said he enjoys the physical activities the most.

"The drills are kind of fun" he said. "I like all the running."

Both Jackson and Nicholas said they intend to continue with the program.

Ellie

thedrifter
05-21-05, 06:36 AM
Brooklyn Marines run devil pups through boot camp <br />
Submitted by: New York City Public Affairs <br />
Story Identification #: 2005520142354 <br />
Story by Cpl. Lameen Witter <br />
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NEW YORK (May 20, 2005) --...

thedrifter
06-01-05, 08:26 AM
TOMORROW'S TROOPERS: Marine program instills discipline in kids

By CHRISTIE COOMBS
For the Patriot Ledger

He's only 9 years old, but Dana Burgess has had enough exposure to the Marines to know that he wants to be one when he grows up.

The third-grader at Cold Spring Elementary School in Plymouth says he has always had an interest in the armed services. He just didn't know how soon he'd be able to get connected.

Dana is one of 34 South Shore students in the Old Colony Young Marines Program. Dana's cousin, Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Burgess, was killed in Iraq in March 2004. That was when the young boy and his brother Allan decided to join the program that aims to promote character, build leadership and help young people to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

‘‘If my cousin Jeff were here, he'd like it too and probably be a volunteer,'' Dana said of the program. ‘‘He would be proud of me for being a Young Marine.''

At their weekly meetings, students belt out the Marine ‘‘hoorah,'' stand at attention and recite the oath with ease, promising not to disgrace or dishonor God, their country, the flag, their parents, themselves or the Young Marines.

The official youth program of the U.S. Marine Corps, the Young Marines has more than 240 units with 19,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in many other countries. There are five groups in Massachusetts, including the one in Plymouth. The others are in New Bedford, Chelsea, Milford and Westover.

The Plymouth group's meetings are led by a fellow Young Marine sergeant under an adult officer's direction. The students participate in physical-fitness training and learn military history, close order drill, military customs and courtesies, and military rank structure. All new candidates must pass the 26-week orientation program known as boot camp before being issued the official Young Marines uniform of camouflage fatigues and black military-style boots.

Young Marines work through the ranks, starting as privates, and, if they prove themselves, ending as first sergeants. The fee is $250, plus members pay minimal weekly dues.

Program Director Lucian Pravati of Plymouth stresses that the organization is not a recruitment tool for the armed services. ‘‘It's a program that focuses on good citizenship, hard work in and out of school, and physical fitness. It ... was founded as a program to keep young people away from alcohol and drugs.

‘‘Not every child here is interested in the service, and only about 10 percent of the members are from a military family,'' Pravati, a corrections officer, said. ‘‘We have four siblings whose father got them involved for the socialization because they are home-schooled. Each has a different reason for joining.''

One of the four girls in the group, 12-year-old Elizabeth Croce of Hanson, signed up because her brothers did. With aspirations to be a Marine medic when she grows up, Pfc. Croce said she hasn't been disappointed. ‘‘Everything about it is fun, even learning the history.''

The home-schooled seventh-grader was the organization's most recent honor graduate, a distinction given to the best all-around Young Marine upon completion of boot camp. She was selected by her Young Marine superior officers.

The program offers kids opportunities they might not otherwise get, Pravati said. ‘‘We take them for overnights at the USS Salem and Camp Fogarty, the Rhode Island National Guard base, where they tackle really tall obstacles on the confidence course. This summer, two are going to Scuba School in Florida and one is going to Space Camp in Alabama, all paid by the national headquarters of the Young Marines,'' he said.

They also participate in parades and Young Marine competitions locally and nationally.

Pravati, 46, and his son originally became involved with the South Coast group in New Bedford as a means of getting his son ‘‘off the couch and away from video games,'' he said. Taken with the program, Pravati decided to start the Old Colony program in Plymouth. He enlisted the help of family and friends, and although it has become like another full-time job, the rewards are worth it.

Pravati and Rick Barnes, a volunteer officer who is a lieutenant at the Plymouth County Jail, agree that watching the youngsters develop and grow is the best part of the program.

Brad and Sandy Burgess, parents of Young Marines Dana and Allan, are pleased with what the program has done for their sons. ‘‘We love the general concept of it, especially the discipline and physical fitness. The kids also love it, and they think the uniforms are pretty cool,'' Sandy Burgess said.

Ellie