By YM/CPL M.J. Spath Black Creek (FL) I attended the first Florida regiment spring Junior Leadership School weekend, from February 23 through March 4th. Junior Leadership School (or JLS) made me a better leader because I learned that not everything is about taking control, it’s about giving others a chance to lead. JLS is about all three of the Young Marines core values, Teamwork, Leadership, and Discipline. I improved my understang at all of these things. The people there were really nice, even my competition was nice. There were two Young Marines that I got along with pretty well.Their names were Miller and Jones. I quickly became friends with them! The food was pretty good too! So, to all of you Young Marines who haven’t gone to JLS yet, study hard and work hard. It’s a good experience. Junior Leadership School Reinforces Young Marines’Core Values By YM/LCpl Owen Ingalls Imagine North Port (FL) JLS. Junior Leadership School. The peak of my Young Marines career, so far. I’ll describe my experience. Never have I ever been so nervous about something in my life.The possibility of failure felt like a massive spider looming above me, waiting to pounce should I make one wrong move. When I arrived, I could barely speak, my nerves were that powerful.However,after the first day,I began to feel more com- fortable, mostly thanks to one of the Master Sergeants who greeted me and also because of my fellow Imagine North Port Young Marines. Within a day, a strong sense of camaraderie began to spread not only from the squad I drilled with but among everyone at the camp. During chow, JLS Young Marines mingled with Se- nior Leadership School Young Marines. It was awesome to see Young Marines I went to recruit training with, Sergeant’s chev- rons displayed on their collars. The first weekend I studied, learning how JLS operates and figuring out how to do what I had to. It helped that the leader of the squad I had to drill was YM/GySgt Emma Forcier,a Young Marine from my own unit. When the second weekend came, I was ready. With my new friends with me, and my squad ready, everyone in my unit passed.YM/LCpl Jaeden Stephens received the award for most improved in my squad. All in all,I’m proud to have passed JLS and would like to reas- sure those attending to definitely try their best, but not allow yourselves to be so consumed with worry that you can’t have fun. Next stop... Senior Leadership School! My Next Stop? Young Marines SENIOR Leadership School By YM/ LCpl Kaden Teehee Imagine School North Port (FL) I attended the Junior Leadership School, or JLS, at Camp Geneva in Florida. This JLS was run by the First Florida Regiment. JLS was a brand-new experience for me, and I made new friends such as YM/LCpl Salomon, YM/Cpl Al- bright,YM/Cpl Miller, and YM/ LCpl Hernandez. I also now consider YM/GySgt Cook and YM/ First Sgt Cantwell my friends as well. At JLS, we woke up at 0600, got ready, formed up, and were then given instructions. We went to the drill field on the first day and did PT. Then we went to the classroom, and learned many new skills and information. After that we did drill and ate chow throughout the day. The next day was very much the same, but more classes were taught. Before we left the first weekend, we were assigned classes to teach. I was assigned to teach a class on integrity. During the next weekend, we had all the final exams, we took a test on all the things taught in the classes, and we had to redo the run because of some technical difficulties (we did the mile run and PFT the first weekend). We also had the drill evaluation plus the inspection, which I thought I aced. I honestly think that JLS changed me. The ac- companying photo shows myself and all of the other Imagine School Young Marines who attended JLS with me. Junior Leadership School: New Skills, Information and Motivation (Left to Right): YM/ LCpl Kaeden Teehee, YM/LCpl Gilberto Berrios, YM/LCpl Tre Posthelwait, YM/LCpl Jaeden Stephens, YM/LCpl Owen Ingalls, YM/LCpl Derek Pinedo, and YM/LCpl Tyler Rodriguez. Young Marines Esprit ONLINE 15