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TheresNoOtherProgramLikeYoungMarinesByYMPVTAustenWebberMountainViewCOIntheYoungMarinesprogramIhavegainedfriendshipsthatIhaveneverhadbefore.IfeellikepeoplegenuinelycareaboutmeAllofthekidsandadultstaffattheMountainViewYoungMarinesarelikeasecondfamilyandIwoulddoanythingtohelphonororprotectanyoneofthem.Wearedevelopingabroth-erhoodthatwilllastalifetime.ForaslongasIcanrememberIhavewantedtohaveamilitarycareerwhenIgrowup.IhaverecentlydecidedthatIwouldliketojointheMarineCorpsaf-terIgraduatefromhighschool.IbelievethattheYoungMarinesishelpingtopre-paremeforthisinmanyways.Wearebecomingstrongerleadersinourhomesschoolsneighborhoodsandcommunitiesthroughourweeklydrillandphysicalt-nesstrainingleadershiptrainingsemi-narsDrugDemandReductiontrainingandcommunityserviceprojects.IhavealwaysbeendrawntotheMa-rineCorps.IjustlovelearningabouttheMarinesandIenjoyreadingbookswatchingdocumentariesandlisteningtostoriesaboutitshistory.IamsogratefulfortheopportunitiesIhavehadtohonorourveteransinlocalceremoniesandpa-rades.Wearetrainedbyanamazingstaff.IamsothankfultoUnitCommanderTrentWa-tersandExecutiveOfcerKevanSharpaswellasalloftheotheradultvolunteersforthetimeandefforttheygiveweekafterweektohelpusbecomebetteryoungmenandwomen.Ourunithasthegreateststaffever.Ihavesomuchrespectforthem.ThesearethebiggestreasonswhyIlovetheYoungMarines.Inmyopinionthereisnootherprogramlikeit.SemperFipreparationforthefuture...IWishIHadJoinedThisProgramMuchEarlier...ByYMLCplSebastianDoddOregonCascadeORItisnotpossibletoexplainthefullexperienceofbeingaYoungMarine.AlotofpeopleaskmetodescribetheYoungMarinesbutitishardtoexplaintheprogramtosomeonewith-outshowingthemsomeexamplesofhowitworksinourlives.WhenIjoinedtheYoungMarinesIcarriednodisciplineandbarelyhadanyrespectforothers.OverthecourseofrecruittrainingIdiscoveredmanyYoungMarinerolemodelsandwasinspiredtobelikethem.IknewIcouldnotachievethatwith-outapplyingsomechangestomydailylifestyle.BeingaYoungMarineisa24hoursaday7daysaweekjobbothinandoutofuniform.ItrequiresyoutoknowhowtobeanexampleforothersandthensettinganexampleforallotheryouthstofollowasstatedintherstlineoftheObligation.IwishIhadjoinedthisprogrammuchearlierbutIdidnotrealizethebenetsitwouldprovideandtheskillsIcouldlearntoprepareformyfuture.Opportunitiestolearnandgrowoc-curatweekenddrillsandencampmentswiththeotherYoungMarinesthatIconsiderfamily.ThefriendshipsthatIvemadeintheprogramareunforgettableandwilllastalifetime.ProvidingtheMotivationToDotheBestICanByYMPFCAustinMillerOregonCascadeORTheYoungMarinesprogramhaschangedmeinmanyways.IamnowpartofsomethingbiggerthanmyselfandIhaveop-portunitiestoexplorenewthingsandtheworld.IdothingsIneverthoughtpossible.TheseexperienceshavechangedhowIactseeandthinkofthings.Ihaveabetterunderstand-ingofhowotherplacesaredifferentfromwhereIlive.Iamnowexcitedtolearnnewthings.IjoinednotknowingverymuchofhistoryorMarineCorpshistory.DuringthelastthreeyearsIhavelearnedmuchhistoryandIhaveabetterunderstandingofwhattheworldhastooffer.BeforejoiningYoungMarinesIlackedselfcondencesocialskillsself-esteemmotivationandinteg-rity.TheYoungMarinesmademeabetterperson.NowIknowhowwhenIdothingswiththemotivationtodothebestIcanitcanchangemeasaperson.Ihavemadefantasticfriendsandbeeninspiredbyadultswhohavechangedmylifeinmanywaysthatwillforeverstaywithme.TheYoungMarineshasfocusedmeonhavingadrug-freelifestylebeingaleaderandgenerallypreparingmeforlife.IamabetterpersonbyhavingthetechnicalskillsandthelifeskillsIhavelearned.SurvivalskillssuchasremakingsheltermakinghowtopackitemsinabagmapandcompassskillsandsomuchmorehavebecomethetopicsIlovetodiscussthemost.IngeneraltheYoungMarinesmadewanttolearnandbecomebetterateverythingIdo.Itryhardertodomybest.MostimportantlyIhavelearnedthatwithoutriskingfailurethereisnosuccessandwithouttheriskoffailuresuccessdoesnotfeelasgood.Ihavelearnedthatwithoutriskingfailurethereisnosuccessandwithouttheriskoffailuresuccessdoesnotfeelasgood.Wearebecomingstrongerleaders...ESPRITPage17