EAST VALLEY YOUNG MARINES, MESA, ARIZONA

Recruit Training

In order to join the unit as a Young Marine you must first earn the title of "Young Marine" by undergoing 13 weeks of recruit training. Recruits must be between 8 and 18 years of age, or until completion of high school.

Recruit training is 13 consecutive Tuesday nights from 1800 - 2030. The training is designed to teach the recruits discipline, leadership and teamwork. It consists of three main sections; physical training, close order drill and classroom instruction.

 The Young Marine Recruit must know: link

The physical aspect of the training is intense, but it is designed to challenge the recruits and help them to develop confidence and a sense of accomplishment. The close order drill is used to teach the recruits how to work together as a team for a common goal, to drill with perfection.

Each week during recruit training the recruits have classes in subjects such as military terms and jargon, Marine Corps rank structure, military customs and courtesies and uniform care and maintenance. These classes help prepare the recruit to become a Young Marine

Week 13 is the graduation ceremony. This is a proud day where we celebrate the accomplishment of the recruits. For the ceremony the staff is in dress uniform, the stands are full of proud parents, friends and relatives, and special honored guests are invited to participate and recognize the new "Young Marines".

It should be noted that this is NOT a scared straight program or a program for kids with disciplinary problems. Your child MUST want to be in the program or he/she will not be accepted. Also, if your child has a record he/she may not be approved to join the unit. This program is designed to help good kids develop leadership skills, self-discipline and self-confidence. Recruits do not have to be straight A students, but they must be in good standing in school and at home

What's Next?

If you are interested in being added to the interest list for the next recruit class, or perhaps becoming an adult volunteering or transferring to the East Valley Young Marines, keep reading

Requirements and Registration

Requirements

To join the Young Marines the only requirement is that the interested individual is between the ages of 8 and 18 (or the completion of high school). The recruit can be male or female and must have a good standing in school and at home.

This does not mean you have to have the "perfect child". Many parents allow their child to join the program for direction, discipline and to help develop self-confidence and leadership. That is what this program is all about, helping good kids to become our future leaders.

Young Marines is the official youth program of the United States Marine Corps; however, it is NOT a recruiting tool. The Young Marines program is the Marine Corps contribution to the drug demand reduction effort by requiring that all Young Marine units conduct quarterly drug demand reduction classes to educate our youth to the dangers of drugs.

Registration

At the parent orientation meetings (dates TBD) registration packets will be available to interested parents and you will have the opportunity to stay after the meeting and fill out the packet, or take it home, fill it out and bring it back on one of the scheduled registration dates (dates TBD). To help make the process a little easier, we have list below some items/information that will be required. This includes:

Registration Fee $35.00 per year

The initial registration fee for a new recruit is $35.00. We hope that it will not increase, but if uniforms or other equipment prices increase we may also have to increase the registration fee to cover the cost.

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