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ESPRITSummer201315ByYMGySgtBraydonHanceClovisCAIhavehadthehonorofbeingrecognizedbymycommunityasaYoungMarineandthereispridethatIfeelwhenIhavetheopportunitytotalkwithsoldiersandveteransabouttheirexperiences.IntheshorttimethatIhavebeenwithmyunitIwasabletoachievegreatgoalsthatIsetformyself.Ihavemadenewfriendsandtheactivitieskeepmefrombecomingboredathome.ThepeerpressuretotrydrugsandIseemanykidsaroundmearetakingdrugstotinortodealwiththeirproblemsisverydistressing.ItcanbechallengingtotryandsaytherightthingtothemandthenbeanoutcastbutIfeelthatthemoralsthatmyparentshavesethelpmedealwiththesepressures.ThebenetofbeingintheYoungMarinesprogramisthatIamlearningaboutresistancetodrugsandtheeffectthiswillhaveonmeandotheryouthisalsoinlinewiththevaluesIplanonapplyinginmylife.AllthishasmademeawareofwhatitmeansnotonlytobeafutureMarinebuttotakeprideinbeinganAmerican.LearningAboutResistancetoDrugAbuseItsAllAbouttheBondWeShareByYMMSgtBrandonMageeLtAlexanderBonnymanTNIjoinedtheYoungMarinesinsixthgradetobelongtoagroup--andforawhilethatwasthereasonIstayed.Andeveryyearafterarecruitclasshadgonebyabout10percentofthatclassincludingminelefttheprogramforvariousrea-sons.ButIstayedtoprovetomyadultleadersandseniorYoungMarinesthatIcouldstayforthelonghaul.Aftersev-enthgradeforawhileIonlystayedinbecauseIdidnotknowofanythingelsetodo.ButthenduringmyhighschoolyearsIrealizedsomethingelseIwantedtostayintheprogramnotbecauseofthegroupbutbecauseoftheindividualsthere.Iwantedtobewiththosepeople.IhavemetcountlesspeoplewhomIhavecometocareforwhomIcancountonwhoIknowshareaneverlastingbondabrotherandsisterhoodwhichcannevercrumble.Ourprogrampromotesahealthydrug-freelifestylebuildingleadersoftomorrowandbecom-ingresponsiblecitizensanddeepdownwearebrothersandsistersthathaveabondthatwecarrywithuswhereverwego.ByYMGySgtBlakeDeWeeseOregonCascadeORIcouldsayitistheSPACESdur-ingthesummer.OrIcouldsayitsthepromotionsortherib-bonsortheencampments.ButthetruthisIstayintheYoungMarinesforyoutheYoungMarinesreadingthisarticle.NotforthemastersergeantsandthesergeantmajorsbutforthePFCsandthelancecorporals.TothosewhomayneverbeonthecoverofEspritbutalwayspourtheirheartintothisprogramIsayYouarethereasonIstayintheYoungMarines.InmyveyearsinthisprogramIhavemetmanyYoungMarineswhostandoutinmymindandmostofthemmightnotgototheSymposium.Theylovethisprogrambutbecauseofthingsliketheirageorsomeotherfactortheywillnotbeabletomaxouttheprogram.NeverthelessourYoungMarinesshowupatev-erydrillandgivealltheyhave.TheseYoungMarinesliterallyarethereasonIkeepgoing.TheyembodythequalityIrespectthemostinpeoplecharacter.InspiredbytheOnesWithCharacterByJohnGionet3rdYoungMarinesDivisionCommanderMyloveforandbeliefintheYoungMarinesprogramiswhatkeepsmegoing.Itsbasedonveprinciples.WhenIwasteachingYoungMarinesatamiddleschoolonceIaskedthemwhytheyjoinedandIwassurprisedthatmostofthemsaiditwasbecausetheywerelookingfordisciplineandleadership.Thirteenyearslateritisstillthemainreason.Asecondleader-shipprinciplethatmotivatesmeisKnowyourselfandseekself-improvement.WearenevertoooldtolearnsomethingnewAthirdprincipleisfriendshipIlovemakingnewfriends--itisagreatfeelingwhenyoumeetotherswhosharethesamepassionyouhave.Asforthefourthprinciplehaveyouevertakenamealtosome-onewhowassickorpaidforstrangerscupofcoffeefornorea-sonatallItsthegreatfeelingyoureceivewhendoingsomethingunselshforsomeoneelseandweintheYoungMarinesprogramembraceit.Fifthandnallyistheprincipleofmakingadifference.PresidentRonaldReagansaiditbestPeopleliveanentirelifetimeandwonderiftheyevermadeadifference.TheUnitedStatesMarinesdonothavethatproblem.IsubmitthatYoungMarineRegisteredAdultLeadersdonothavethatproblemeither.TheveprincipleshaveservedmewellandmyrewardsarewhenYoungMarineswhostillremembermeyearsaftertheyhavelefttheprogramwhentheycallorstopbytosaythankyou.Theseintangiblere-wardsaregreaterthananymedalawardorpromotionanyonecouldeverreceive.AnAdultsPerspectiveItsfortheIntangibleRewardsLEADERSHIPTEAMWORKDISCIPLINE