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San Diego Young Marines Trade ‘Civies' For ‘Cammies'
(May 29, 2010) |
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| MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (MCN - 5/22/2010) — Loud drill
instructors running around screaming at recruits is generally what people think
about boot camp, but Young Marines train the same way.
Parents, family members, Marines and Young Marines gathered at Mills Park for
the graduation ceremony of the San Diego Young Marines May 22. |
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| The San Diego Young Marines salute during
the national anthem at their graduation ceremony at Mills Park
May 22. The eight- to 17-year-old children went through nine
weeks of recruit training led by active duty enlisted Marines,
including volunteers stationed here. |
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Forty-nine Young Marines graduated from the program designed for children
from ages eight to 17. They went through nine weeks of training to learn the
core values of being in the military.
“I was able to teach these kids about professionalism, discipline and
character,” said Cpl. Dominic M. Lombardo, a crew chief and operations clerk
with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and the noncommissioned
officer-in-charge of the San Diego Young Marines.
Lombardo volunteered more than 1,200 hours working with the Young Marines.
The nine-week recruit training program mimics the training Marines go
through during boot camp, and for many of the children, it is their first
time having a role model to mentor them, explained Lombardo.
The Young Marines learned about the Uniform Code of Military Justice, drill
movements, basic formations, core values and military rank structures.
“We are here to teach them what a Young Marine is,” said Lombardo.
Many of the children came from single-parent families, difficult situations
or referrals from families who had their own kids go through the program.
“A lot of people think that all of these kids are strictly from military
families, but they aren't, they are from all over San Diego,” said Angel
DeLuz, a volunteer with the Young Marines and family readiness program
trainer with Marine Corps Community Services. “For some of the kids it is
the first time that they are finishing something and learning about
self-respect.”
The program began with 60 children and ended up with 49 graduates. Some of
the kids earned different ranks and billets during the training, and some
were meritoriously promoted at the graduation ceremony.
After the ceremony concluded attendees indulged in food beverages and cake,
and the families of the Young Marines embraced and congratulated their
children for their hard work and dedication. | |
Article and photo by USMC LCpl. Steven H. Posy
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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