• From our National Executive Director Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/usyoungmarines and our national homepage www.youngmarines.com 2 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE Spring is upon us, and with it come the promises of a new season. The same could be said for our program. We have new Divi- sion Young Marines of the Year, our National Headquarters location has changed, and we are reviewing, updating, and modifying our Young Marine materials (including our Young Marine of the Year policy) to better reflect the desires and needs of the focus of all effort in our program: the Young Marines. Our first Young Marines Public Affairs Officer class just graduated last month, and these intrepid Young Marine reporters are already submitting stories. Each Division was repre- sented by two Young Marines, who received training in video, photography, writing, and in- terviewing skills along with a variety of other media-related topics. I am confident that they will be willing to share their knowledge, so don’t hesitate to ask your Unit Commander to call upon them if you find yourself interesting in submitting content—Esprit is your maga- zine, keep your articles and pictures coming! Before we move on to celebrating the new cohort in this issue, I’d like to commend our 2016 Division Young Marines of the Year. Each of you has performed your duties in an exemplary way, and I am grateful for your ef- forts within your respective Divisions and for your continued service as our next generation of leaders. Your successors will be joining me as we return to Guam and Iwo Jima to sup- port our Veterans participating in the Reunion of Honor. I have every confidence that you have briefed them on what to expect. On 6 May 2017, at our Adult Leadership Conference (ALC) Banquet, one of them will be announced as the new National Young Marine of the Year. While the competition for this honor is fierce, I know that they are all ready and eager for the challenge. Until then, however, YM/SgtMaj Bacon will continue to execute his responsibilities with gusto. He has worked hard as the National Young Marine of the Year and has done an outstanding job of representing all of you and this program at events across the country as well as in the media. This is part of the lead- ership and discipline we expect in our Young Marine leaders, and I encourage all of you to strive for leadership positions and greater opportunities to help shape this program for future generations. This is why we changed the Young Marine of the Year selection pro- cess for every level. The opportunity has been expanded to make sure that any Young Marine meeting the respective qualifications gets a chance to compete for Young Marine of the Year at the Battalion, Regiment, or Division level. You hold the key to your success. Since shortly after September 2001, the Young Marines Headquarters’ offices have been hosted aboard Joint Base Anacostia-Bol- ling. Changing policies, however, made it ex- tremely difficult for off-post visitors to enter, and we were going to incur some very high rent. While we appreciate our hosts’ incred- ible support over the last 15 years, it was in the best interests of the program to relocate, and I am excited to share that we are current- ly unpacking in our new offices that are just 2.2 miles away from the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Upcoming symposiums and other HQ events will be hosted in our new spaces, located at: 17739 Main Street, Suite 250, Dumfries, VA 22026. Please plan to visit us soon—you are always welcome at your National Headquarters! While we are busy working on the ALC and SPACES, you are equally busy working on finishing a successful academic year in school. Stay focused on ending the year strong so you can have a great summer. Remember that part of teamwork is looking out for one another—if you see a fellow Young Marine struggling, please remember to help or bring it to the at- tention of a Registered Adult. Stay engaged with your units, keep moti- vated, and keep living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Semper Fidelis, Young Marines! Col Bill Davis, USMC (Ret) National Executive Director, Young Marines