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Young leaders: Young Marines

By Melissa Hirschl

When Stephanie Nash enrolled her son Kevin in the Chandler Mustang Young Marines, she was skeptical, but still held out hope.

The Kyrene Corridor mom had a 12-year-old son with attention deficit disorder, complicated by hyperactivity. She wanted a program that would provide moral guidance, encourage physical development and direct his energy in a positive direction.

She had heard glowing comments about how the Young Marines program builds character, but she didn’t know if the disciplined “yes sir, no sir” program would be a fit for her son.

Now, a year and a half later, any doubts have long since been dispelled.

“I absolutely love this organization,” she says. “It has paved the way for my son to become a leader in life.”

One of America’s premier youth organizations since 1958, Young Marines offers young people between eight to 15 an opportunity to be part of an adventure that can last a lifetime.

Engaging activities include weekly meetings, community service projects, participation in community, state and national parades and celebrations.

If a robust program that builds confidence, has ample opportunities for learning and encourages a drug free, healthy lifestyle, is what you’ve been seeking, Young Marines may well be the answer.

“My son was never a big sports person, and I thought it was important for him to meet new people,” says Nash.

“Since he has ADHD, it’s been tough; he wasn’t a bad student, but he had trouble learning. Now he’s an ‘A’ student and just got “Terrific Kid” recognition from the Kiwanis Club.”

In addition, says Nash, he was on student council last year and he is getting along wonderfully with his peers and others.

“The Young Marines influenced him very much--he actually likes the discipline,” she says.

Any association involved with the military can easily conjure up images of guns and violence to concerned parents. But retired Marine Capt. George Meegan, who helped found the program, has reassuring words.

“We’re not involved with weapons of any kind. What we offer kids a program that builds self-confidence and encourages patriotism, citizenship and academic excellence.

A Viet Nam veteran, Meegan was a company commander in the infantry during the Viet Nam War, and has traveled all over the world, including Afghanistan and Lebanon. 

“I think the Marines is the best military organization in the United States,” he says. “It not only instilled me with a sense of pride but of purpose; I learned I can do anything I put my mind to.”

As a modern day Young Marine, Kevin Nash already has his own slant on the organization.

“The Young Marines is educational, recreation and fun. You learn military subjects such as the proper way to dress in a camouflage uniform and how to be responsible for the uniform. Overall, this program is excellent.”

Like Boy Scouts, the Young Marines offers weekend outings to teach “fieldcraft” in addition to a 26-hour boot camp, usually spread over several weekly meetings.

This rigorous training is all part of the overall goal of instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment. In addition, leaders teach close-order drill (marching), the proper wear of the uniform, citizenship, physical fitness and respect.

As their real-Marine counterparts, all young people start out as privates, with an opportunity to work themselves up to the rank of sergeant major.

“They can go all the way to the top,” says Meegan. “It all depends on what effort they want to put into it. If they become a corporal, which is a non-commissioned officer status, they have to be in charge of drills and educating the others.

“One thing we absolutely won’t put up with is profanity. If anyone uses it, or harasses anyone, they’re out of the program; that’s the code I live by. I wouldn’t be involved in a program that didn’t follow that code.”

In order to “walk, talk and think” like a Marine, the cadets’ first order of business is the basics, where they muster (a military term for getting counted), have inspection of uniforms and learn Marine history, citizenship and physical fitness.

For Young Marines who have mastered the training program, there are more detailed general subjects classes, ranging from citizenship, history or fieldcraft (how to set up a campsite, for example), to hygiene.

Both groups practice close-order drill, (standing at attention and learning how to march) and government.

The Chandler Mustangs Young Marines has a staff that consists of police officers from Phoenix and Mesa (one of which is a gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve, the other a former Marine), an insurance agent (and former Marine) and a retired Marine Corps officer.

Probably the only news more exciting than announcement of the Young Marines program is the price to get in: a mere $20 for the year, needed to cover insurance.

In addition, parents need to purchase the uniform (between $40 and $50) and boots, ($25 and up).

 The young recruits meet every Tuesday between 6 and 8 p.m. at the National Guard Armory on south Cooper Road near the Chandler Airport.

Information: (480) 897-8835 or Young Marines’ national headquarters at 1-800-717-0060.

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