HISTORY AND PURPOSE

History

The birth of the Young Marines was in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1958. The official charter was issued on 17 October 1965 and thereafter the program spread throughout the country.

Although chartered as a League Sponsored Organization, the Young Marines began to function as a subsidiary organization independently in 1974.

In 1975 membership was extended to included participation of females so that all youth could benefit.
By 1978 the Young Marine bylaws were approved and adopted.
In 1980 the Young Marine program was granted the status as a Youth Educational Organization with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classification of 501(C)3.
In July 1993 the United States Marine Corps designated the Young Marine Program as "The focal organization for fulfilling its participation in the Department of Defense's Drug Demand Reduction Activities." Marine Corps Order 5000.20 officially recognized the Young Marines and published policy to support the program.

Purpose

The Young Marines program is open to all boys and girls aged 8 to 18. The Young Marines offer a variety of activities specifically designed:

To instill in its members the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God and fidelity to our country and its institutions.
To stimulate an interest in, and respect for, academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States of America.
To promote physical fitness through the conduct of physical activities, including participation in athletic events and close order drill.
To advocate a drug-free lifestyle through a continual drug prevention education program.

Updated: December 2005