24 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE ACYM: I Stayed Motivated, and Earned My Promotions By YM/LCpl Mason Flowers Atlantic Coast (FL) The day I walked into the doors of the Navy Reserve was the day I became a Young Marine Recruit, in August, 2015. My parents and I were in the parking lot and we saw GySgt Vicente, along with the Unit’s Commanding Officer, Mrs. Gib- bons. I could hear Gunny yelling at a few recruits to yell out “Aye, Sir !” from where I was standing. My heart sank when he looked at me and told me to run inside and to go align with the rest of the recruits. I yelled out “Aye, Sir!” and ran inside. As the weeks passed, I became more motivated. I did mess up a few times, which may have cost me Honor Graduate honors (award- ed to YM/Sgt. Kudre), but I kept my bear- ing and continued. Gunny was teaching us how to march for a parade; I was one of the last to fig- ure it out, a month later. After Christmas Break, I came back and at one of our first events I earned my Marksmanship Rib- bon and at the end another Young Ma- rine from my recruit class , Mack J., was promoted to PFC. That’s when I just had to get promoted.The weeks went by and one day I had disobeyed orders. I lost my team leader position and my promo- tion date was set back. Not only that I had to go up on discipline board. While on discipline board I had answer a few questions from Gunny,Mr.Spath,and YM/ Cpl A. Spath. Later, I spoke with our Unit Commander, Mrs. Gibbons about what I needed to do to improve.I did my best by doing everything I could for the unit. On April 9th, 2016 I was promoted to PFC. After I came back from a month-long trip with my family,I went on the division encampment. We didn’t have that much to do there, but it was still fun. While we were there though, there were a lot of others who I was happy to meet and I’m hoping to see them next time. Not long after we left, we went to an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown. We stayed on the ship for two days and went around seeing the city. On our last night, we all went on a hunt to find places that could be haunted. It was fun and we enjoyed ourselves the whole time. Once we got back home we started training for the Christmas parade. When we did 2016’s Christmas parade I showed Gunny and Mrs. Gibbons that I am capable of being a leader and on December 6th, 2016 I was promoted to Lance Corporal. I might have to move from the unit soon, but I’m going to enjoy all the time I have here at Atlantic Coast. Young Marines (and Former YMs) are Everywhere! Above: Marine PFC Lucas Ward, former National Young Marine Of the Year, with (Left to Right)12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Gene Overstreet, USMC (Ret.), Commanding General Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego BGen William M. Jurney, and Young Marines National Executive Director Col. Bill Davis. Right: Young Marines National Executive Director Col. Bill Davis and Joseph Lusignan, Young Marines Deputy Director and Program Drug Demand Reduction Resource Officer, with PFC Gallegos, USMC at Gallegos’recruit graduation at MCRD. PFC Gallegos was formerly a Young Marine with the Pueblo, Colorado Young Marines unit. Left: Young Marines National Executive Director Col. Bill Davis and Joseph Lusignan, Young Marines Deputy Director and Program Drug Demand Reduction Resource Officer, with YM/GySgt Smith and YM/Sgt Killion from the North San Diego (CA)Young Marines at Marine West Expo on Camp Pendleton, CA. Above: Young Marines National Executive Director Col. Bill Davis takes the opportunity to speak to a unit.