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ESPRITSummer201319ByYMCPLSierraFuentesSanAntonioTXItwasadaythatchangedmylifeJune26th2011.ThatwaswhenIbecameaYoungMarinepartoftherstpla-toontograduateinSanAntonioinover40years.Nowal-mosttwoyearslaterwhilemostteenswerespendingspringbreakonvacationfourofmyfellowYoungMarinesandIpouredourselvesintoTrainingPlatoon4003tobecomethebestYoungMarinestheycouldbe.IrememberedhowmyadultleadershadimpactedmeandIrealizedIwantedtomakethatsameimpactonthesenewrecruits.WatchingthemgothroughthesametrainingIdidwhenIwas14broughtbacksomanymemories.ThemoretimeIspentwiththemthemoreIunderstoodwhatitmeanttobealeader.GoingthroughYoungMarinerecruittrainingwastoughbothphysicallyandmentallyanditisthesamewayifyoureanNCOinstructor.OursoontobeYoungMarinesstayedthewholeweekawayfromhomeaswell.Assistingwithrecruittrainingwehadtowakeupearlierthanourrecruitsandwakingthemupbroughtbacksweetmemoriesofwakingupat0500foramorningmilerun.OneofthecoolthingsandmypersonalfavoriteactivityistheLeadershipReactionCourseorLRC.Itwastowardstheendoftheweeksowegottoseejusthowfartheydcomesincetheirarrival.Itwasveryemotionalwatchingthemgothroughandconquertheob-stacles.Toabletoseeagroupofpeoplewhodidntwantanythingtodowitheachotheratrstandthencometo-getherasateamisanincrediblething.SoMarch16th2013wasanotherdaythatwillstaywithmeforever.ItwasadaywhenIsawordinarykidsearnthetitleofYoungMarine.GraduationadaythatChanGesyourLifeGettingMADDandEndingDrunkDrivingByCindyTownsendUnitStaffPalmBeachesFLDuringWorldWarIdoughboyswasthenicknamegiventothesoldiersoftheAmericanExpeditionaryForcethattookpartinthelaterpartofthewar.HaveyoueverimaginedwhatitwouldbeliketobeadoughboyforjustadayThispastMayoneYoungMarinefromourPalmBeachesunitwasabouttondout.BypersonalinvitationYMCplRandallB.TownsendwasinvitedtobeoneofonlyfouryoungmentorepresentthoseWorldWarIghtersintheNationalMemorialDayPa-radeinWashingtonDC.YMCplTownsendlatersaiditwasanhonorandprivilegetorepresenttheveteransfromWorldWarI.TomyknowledgeIwasalsotheonlyrepresentationofYoungMarinesfromtheStateofFloridaatthiseventhesaid.Iplantousethisex-periencetoencourageotherstoparticipateinthiseventnextyearandevenconsiderstartingasimilareventintheirlocalareassoweallrememberthesacricesgivenoverthehistoryofourcountry.DoughboyforaDayByYM1stSgtAlexLoriaColWesleyFoxVAMyunitdoesalotofDrugDemandReductionactivitiesandoneofourthemishelpingMADDMothersAgainstDrunkDriversandthelocalpolicestaffDUIcheckpointsDUIstandsforDrivingWhileUndertheInuenceofAl-coholthenameofthelawpeoplebreakwhentheydrinkanddrive.Thepurposeofthecheckpointsisbothtocatchdrunkdriversontheroadandtoeducatealldrivers.MyunitpassesoutpamphletsbyMADDthatgivesinforma-tionondrunkdrivingtothepeoplethatpassthroughthecheckpoint.ItsoneoftheeventsthatwedothathelpedusachievetheKikiCamarenaAwardthisyear.OnenightwhenwewerevolunteeringIinterviewedthepresidentofthelocalchapterofMADDonwhysheisin-volvedandwhatkindsofthingsMADDdoes.ShesaidshebecameinvolvedbecauseafewofherfamilymembershadbeenkilledbyadrunkdrivershehasbeenamemberofMADDsince1989.ShesaidthattheMADDprogramrep-resentsandsupportsthefamiliesofvictimsofdrunkdrivingaccidentsandworkstopassnewDUIlaws.TheMADDprogramalsoparticipatesintheRedRibboncampaignastheYoungMarinesdoandtheyalsospeaktoschoolsandotherpartsofthecommunityaboutDUIawareness.