thedrifter
03-13-07, 08:01 AM
Young Marines seeking new recruits
Young Marines learn Semper Fi
Date published: 3/13/2007
by hugh muir
Crossroads Young Marines is looking for a few good boys and girls.
The unit, founded at Quantico in 2001, has had as many as 60 members, but it now is down to 15. The numerical ups and downs are the result of high school graduations, family moves and competing interests.
The commander of the Crossroads unit since 2002 is retired Master Sgt. Robert Drew Jr. This month he is conducting a recruitment drive in anticipation of the unit's "boot camp" on March 31 and April 7, plus a three-day encampment at Quantico's Camp Upshur on April 13, 14 and 15.
"We train young people to be disciplined and responsible," said Drew, "and to enjoy life in the outdoors. We're like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in many respects. But we add to it the tradition of the Corps." The organization's motto, he pointed out, is "strengthening the lives of America's youth."
In July 1993, the Marine Corps designated the Young Marines program as "the focal organization" in the Department of Defense's drug-reduction activities.
Young Marines is an international organization, chartered Oct. 17, 1965, by the Marine Corps League. It has some 18,000 members worldwide. In addition to units in more than 38 states, there are Young Marine groups in Okinawa, Korea, Australia and Germany, plus exchange programs with Army Cadets in Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden.
In 1975, 10 years after being chartered, the Young Marines opened membership to girls, and the present male-female ratio nationwide is close to 50-50. (One of the Young Marines' annual events is a ball in October on the organization's birthday.) The age range is 8 to 18.
The Crossroads unit (named for Quantico, the "crossroads" of the Marine Corps) draws members primarily from Stafford and Prince William counties.
Crossroads is one of two Young Marines units at the base. There is also the Quantico Young Marines, an older and larger group of 70 members with an average weekly turnout of 40-45.
The Crossroads unit meetings are every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and include a mix of close-order drill, first aid practice, uniform care and inspection. Sometimes they participate in a version of the "Jeopardy" TV show, with "answers" demanding the right question on current events, basic national politics and the Young Marines organization itself. Active duty Marines help out. Lance Cpl. Christapher Hanks helped review the unit earlier this month.
In good weather, the group is often out on the trails that lace Quantico. There are hikes and runs, which sometimes include conquering obstacle courses.
They participate in quarterly campouts, nature study and survival in the wild. Outdoor activities continue in the winter, when cold-weather campouts are held. Summer encampments include lessons on how to use a weapon involving supervised shooting practice with .22 caliber rifles.
The young members are not necessarily from military families, although 12-year-old Lance Cpl. Antonio Philips' mother is a Marine major, and the parents of Lance Cpl. John Lynch, also 12, are both commanders in the Navy.
The Crossroads unit's ranking noncommissioned officer is Staff Sgt. Jasmine Bull, 17, whose father is a Vietnam veteran staff sergeant and whose mother is a retired Army sergeant major. Pfc. Jack Giodarno, 9, is the son of a former Marine who himself was once a Young Marine.
Drew, the unit's commander, said, "We try to prepare these boys and girls for life, and for whatever they do, to be always faithful."
Hugh Muir: 540/735-1975
Email: hmuir@freelancestar.com
Registration for the Crossroads Young Marines unit will be March 17 and 24 at the Quantico base. It is open to area youngsters, ages 8 to 18, who are in good academic standing. For information and directions, contact Master Sgt. Robert Drew Jr. at 540/295-1362 or online at semperfiym@com cast.net.
There is a one-time fee of $150 for joining, but the unit will cover costs for those economically less fortunate. The money pays for a camouflage uniform, regulation boots, a CamelBak water hydration system (holds 3 liters of water, for hikes and camping trips), insurance and administrative and support fees to unit and national headquarters. After that, there is an annual fee of $20.
The Young Marines also raise money to support their local operations. Crossroads recently bought a retired school bus for $2,500 to carry its members on their field trips. They've held car washes, sold frozen pizzas door-to-door and held yard sales. And, of course, donations are accepted. The Young Marines is a fully tax-exempt organization. Since the YM is an all-volunteer group, fees go directly to the young people's activities
Ellie
Young Marines learn Semper Fi
Date published: 3/13/2007
by hugh muir
Crossroads Young Marines is looking for a few good boys and girls.
The unit, founded at Quantico in 2001, has had as many as 60 members, but it now is down to 15. The numerical ups and downs are the result of high school graduations, family moves and competing interests.
The commander of the Crossroads unit since 2002 is retired Master Sgt. Robert Drew Jr. This month he is conducting a recruitment drive in anticipation of the unit's "boot camp" on March 31 and April 7, plus a three-day encampment at Quantico's Camp Upshur on April 13, 14 and 15.
"We train young people to be disciplined and responsible," said Drew, "and to enjoy life in the outdoors. We're like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in many respects. But we add to it the tradition of the Corps." The organization's motto, he pointed out, is "strengthening the lives of America's youth."
In July 1993, the Marine Corps designated the Young Marines program as "the focal organization" in the Department of Defense's drug-reduction activities.
Young Marines is an international organization, chartered Oct. 17, 1965, by the Marine Corps League. It has some 18,000 members worldwide. In addition to units in more than 38 states, there are Young Marine groups in Okinawa, Korea, Australia and Germany, plus exchange programs with Army Cadets in Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden.
In 1975, 10 years after being chartered, the Young Marines opened membership to girls, and the present male-female ratio nationwide is close to 50-50. (One of the Young Marines' annual events is a ball in October on the organization's birthday.) The age range is 8 to 18.
The Crossroads unit (named for Quantico, the "crossroads" of the Marine Corps) draws members primarily from Stafford and Prince William counties.
Crossroads is one of two Young Marines units at the base. There is also the Quantico Young Marines, an older and larger group of 70 members with an average weekly turnout of 40-45.
The Crossroads unit meetings are every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and include a mix of close-order drill, first aid practice, uniform care and inspection. Sometimes they participate in a version of the "Jeopardy" TV show, with "answers" demanding the right question on current events, basic national politics and the Young Marines organization itself. Active duty Marines help out. Lance Cpl. Christapher Hanks helped review the unit earlier this month.
In good weather, the group is often out on the trails that lace Quantico. There are hikes and runs, which sometimes include conquering obstacle courses.
They participate in quarterly campouts, nature study and survival in the wild. Outdoor activities continue in the winter, when cold-weather campouts are held. Summer encampments include lessons on how to use a weapon involving supervised shooting practice with .22 caliber rifles.
The young members are not necessarily from military families, although 12-year-old Lance Cpl. Antonio Philips' mother is a Marine major, and the parents of Lance Cpl. John Lynch, also 12, are both commanders in the Navy.
The Crossroads unit's ranking noncommissioned officer is Staff Sgt. Jasmine Bull, 17, whose father is a Vietnam veteran staff sergeant and whose mother is a retired Army sergeant major. Pfc. Jack Giodarno, 9, is the son of a former Marine who himself was once a Young Marine.
Drew, the unit's commander, said, "We try to prepare these boys and girls for life, and for whatever they do, to be always faithful."
Hugh Muir: 540/735-1975
Email: hmuir@freelancestar.com
Registration for the Crossroads Young Marines unit will be March 17 and 24 at the Quantico base. It is open to area youngsters, ages 8 to 18, who are in good academic standing. For information and directions, contact Master Sgt. Robert Drew Jr. at 540/295-1362 or online at semperfiym@com cast.net.
There is a one-time fee of $150 for joining, but the unit will cover costs for those economically less fortunate. The money pays for a camouflage uniform, regulation boots, a CamelBak water hydration system (holds 3 liters of water, for hikes and camping trips), insurance and administrative and support fees to unit and national headquarters. After that, there is an annual fee of $20.
The Young Marines also raise money to support their local operations. Crossroads recently bought a retired school bus for $2,500 to carry its members on their field trips. They've held car washes, sold frozen pizzas door-to-door and held yard sales. And, of course, donations are accepted. The Young Marines is a fully tax-exempt organization. Since the YM is an all-volunteer group, fees go directly to the young people's activities
Ellie