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ByYMSgtMajDakotaRichterNationalYoungMarineoftheYear2013-14NorthernKentuckyIrecentlyachievedoneofmybiggestgoalsanddreamstheroleofadvocatebiggestfanandmentorotherwiseknownasNationalYoungMarineoftheYear.ThiswastheresultofallthegoalsIvesetandop-portunitiesIveseizedthroughoutmyYoungMarinescareerallofwhichhavecontributedtomymakingthemostoutofmytimeintheprogram.AsarecruitIwasaskedwhatIwant-edtoaccomplishbeforeIleftthepro-gram.AtthetimeIbelievemyanswerwastherankofgunnerysergeant.ThisisaquestionIcontinuetoaskrecruitsandnewlygraduatedYoungMarinesbecauseitsaquestionweallneedtodevelopthehabitofaskingourselves.Thechallengingaspectofgoalsettingisthateverytimeagoalisachievedafterashortwell-deservedcelebra-toryperiodwemustsetanewgoalinordertokeepchallengingandpush-ingourselvestogreaterthings.Sotaketimetostopandplan.Whileyoureatittakethetimetosurveyandseizetheopportunitiesthatarisewhenyourpassionandmotivationleadyoutowardyourobjective.Summerisanexcellenttimeinthisprogrambecauseitisabundantwithopportunitiestodevelopandadvanceyour-selfbothasaYoungMarineandasayoungAmerican.NewexperiencessuchastheCattleDriveorAviationCampcanopenoureyestonewgoalswedliketosetornewdreamswedliketochasetheyrealsoanexcel-lentopportunitytomeetinspiringandaspiringYoungMarinesfromaroundthecountrywhoareworkinghardtoachievegreatthings.Forthoseofyouat-tendingaLeadershipSchoolsetagoalandthenworktenaciouslytoearnandachieveit.Worktowardstheperfect500PFTfortheIronMikeawardorstrivetograduateinthetop10atALStoearnaspotatthisyearsLeadershipSympo-sium.Opportunitiessuchasthesecanleadtonewfriendsnewperspectivesandnewwaystochaseyourdreamsonestepatatime.YoungMarineswhateveryourgoalsmayberememberthatweareblessedtobeinaprogramthatallowsustochasethemandprovidesuswiththetenacitytodoso.Seizeeveryopportu-nitytheprogramprovidesyouandhelpotherstodothesame.IlookforwardtomeetingasmanyofyouasIcanthisyearandIhopeyouallhaveanoutstandingsummerYMSgtMajDakotaRichterNationalYoungMarineoftheYearDakotaRichterYouAreCapableofAchievingIncredibleThingsByYMSgtMajMcCallBehringerOutgoingNationalYoungMarineoftheYear2012-13InMay2012IwasnamedtheNationalYoungMarineoftheYear.Iwasnothingshortofhumbled.AfteralmosteightyearsofhardworkIwasnallyachievingmygoals.TodayIwanttothankeveryregisteredadultvolunteerandYoungMarinethathelpedmakethispastyearsoamaz-ing.Seeingthehardworkanddedicationofthisorganiza-tionanditsmembershasonlyfueledmymotivationandcontributedtotheprideIhavewhentalkingaboutourmanyaccomplishments.AsIbeginthenextchapterofmylifeIcannotthankyouenoughformakingYoungMarinessuchahugepartofmylifethusfarandhelpingtopreparemeforwhatevercomesnext.IwillcontinuetolivebyourcorevaluesandpromotethisincredibleorganizationwhileIheadtocollegeinthefall.IfIcanleaveanythingwiththemembersofthispro-gramitstocontinuetoworkhardseekself-improvementandpushyourselftowhatyouthinkyourlimitsareandthensome.OnlyyoucandictateyourfutureandIknoweachofyouiscapableofachievingincrediblethings.IlookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwiththisprogramandtoremembertheimpactithashadonmeasIcontinueontofutureendeavors.Thankyouallforbeingapartofthisprogramandmakingusthemostuniqueandamazingyouthprogramournationhastooffer.ESPRITSummer20133SeizeEveryOpportunitytheProgramProvidesYou