The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
The Young Marines is not a recruiting tool for military service. Our goal is to keep your young boy or girl in school until graduation. Hopefully along the way they have learned some leadership skills that will serve them in whatever direction they decide to go after leaving the program. We want your child to be and remain physically fit. We start every meeting with physical fitness exercises and conduct a quarterly physical fitness test so your child and we can see how they are progressing. We want your child to live a healthy drug free lifestyle. To that end we conduct quarterly drug demand reduction training along with impromptu classes on drug usage.
We provide your child an opportunity, if they earn it, to attend leadership schools. We believe the future of our great country lies squarely on the shoulders of our youth. Unfortunately there are few opportunities for our young people to develop the skills necessary to lead. The Young Marines provides your child that opportunity under the guidance of the registered adult staff. Every member of our adult staff has passed an extensive background investigation conducted by our National Headquarters located in Washington, D.C. In addition we practice what is termed “two deep leadership.” This means at no time will your child ever be alone with a single adult leader unless there are other children also present. Any time we have a meeting with your child two or more adults will be present.
We do not teach your child military tactics but we do teach them field skills such as how to read a map, use a compass, and setup a campsite. We also give them an opportunity to practice what they were taught by going on overnight camping trips. We provide your child with the opportunity to receive advanced first aid training. We teach them teamwork. We hold them accountable for their actions.
If you think the Young Marines might be something you and your child are interested in joining please feel free to contact us and arrange to attend a meeting and see what we are all about. As we always tell parents “We never do anything behind closed doors. The doors may be shut, but that is to help limit the noise the kids generate from bothering other people. Our meetings are held at the Veterans Memorial Building in Eugene, Oregon and you are welcome to drop by anytime we are here.”
