About Us - The Young Marines
The Young Marines program is open to all boys and girls ages 8 through completion of high school who are in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines’ humble beginnings, in 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 240 units with 10,000 boys and girls and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states and the District of Columbia. We also has units in Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.
Young Marines of the Lt Alexander Bonnyman Unit in front of
American Flag at the Salute to Service Ceremony
Each Young Marine unit is an independent community-based program lead by dedicated adult volunteers. Many of these volunteers are former, retired, active duty, or reserve Marines who believe passionately that the values they learned as Marines had a positive affect on them. Adult Leaders volunteer time and make every effort to pass positive values on to those under their charge before other destructive influences take root. Oversight of the Young Marines is provided by the National Board, consisting of a National Director, representatives from each of the Young Marines six divisions, four members at large, two invited members and one Marine Corps League Representative. The division representatives and members at large are all elected positions.