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motivationinspirationMyFirstYearICantWaittoOutrankMyDadByYMPFCRioSaenzSacramentoCAIjoinedtheYoungMarinesinMay2013threemonthsafterturning8andwhatanamazingyearithasbeen.IusedtoplayalotofvideogamesbutnowIworklearnandgettogetherwithmyfellowYoungMarinesforfun.Wevolunteerinourcommunitymarchinparadesanduseteamworkwhilelearningdisciplineanddevelopingleadershipskills.Graduatingrecruittrainingandearningmyuniformwasoneofthebestdaysofmylife.SincethenIveearnedawardsspecialribbonsandmademanynewfriends.IvehadthechancetovisitwithYoungMa-rinesinothercities.Ihikedmorethan7mileswiththeGaltYoungMarinesandonarecenttriptovisitfamilyinSanDiegoIhadanopportunitytotourMarineCorpsRecruitDepotandjoinanencampmentwiththeNorthSanDiegoYoungMarines.Theyareaphenomenalunitandtheytreatedmelikeoneoftheirown.Weenjoyedtwodaysofpurefun.WehikedtothetopofamountainprayedplayedgamesroastedsmoresandIlearnedaboutresafetymarksmanshiplandnavigationeldqualica-tionsandsomuchmore.WhilevisitingmygreatuncleDannySaenzaretiredMa-rinewhoearnedmanymedalsinhiscareeroneofhisfriendsstoppedby.ImetGilbertH.Bolton.GunnerBoltonhasaverystronghandshakeandwasdecoratedforvalorwithaSilverStarinVietnam.Hetoldmetostaydisciplinedlovemycountryworkhardalwaysdomybestandneverquit.IamverygratefultobeanAmericanandproudtohaveearnedthetitleofYoungMarinePFCandIcantwaittooutrankmydad.SemperFidelisAnUnforgettableUnitTriptoSanDiegoByYMSgtMatthewWhittierMountainViewCOIjoinedtheYoungMarinesin2009whenIwas10yearsold.Iamnow15yearsoldandIamaSergeant.YoungMarineshasbecomeanintegralpartofmylifeforthepastveyears.TherehavebeensomanygreatexperiencestheoneexperiencethatIwillrememberfortherestofmylifewasatriptoSanDiegowithmyYoungMarinesunit.WetookabustoCaliforniafromDenverColoradoittookusmorethan24hourstoreachSanDiego.EverydaywaspackedwithexperiencessuchastouringMCASMiramarandgoingaboardtheUSSMidway.Wespentsometimeatthebeachandalmostallofuswerestungbyjellysh.WewerealsoluckyenoughtobeabletoseeaMarineCorpsgraduationwhichwasanincredibleexperience.SomeofthethingswedidwereexclusiveopportunitiesthatcouldneverbegrantedtoaciviliansuchasstayingatCampPendletongoingontheMarineCorpsobstaclecourseandgettingtotourtheUSSBoxer.WhenoureightdaytripwasoverwecamebacktoDenver.Ithinkofthisexperienceoftenandwillneverforgetit.IdenitelyseemyselfcontinuingwiththeYoungMarinesuntilInishhighschool.opportunitiestotravel...VisitingaMarineCorpsRecruitDepotGraduationByYMCplLukeSmithNorthSanDiegoCASeveralYoungMarinesinmyunithadavacationdayfromschool.WechosethatFridaytovisittheMarineCorpsRecruitDepotinSanDiegotowatchagraduationceremony.WewerepermittedtowalkaroundtheParadeDeckbecauseciviliansarentallowedtowalkonit.Itsconsideredsacredground.Wewereinspection-readyinouruniformsaswelookedforplacestosit.Whilewewerewalkinginfrontofthebleach-ersthecrowdstartedtocheerandapplaudus.WewereinvitedbyLtColCarlosCommandingOfcerofThirdRe-cruitTrainingBattaliontositintheVIPsectionintheReviewingStand.WeenjoyedwatchingandlisteningtotheMarineCorpsBandastheyperformedrightinfrontofwherewewereseated.ThenthesixPlatoonsthatmadeupLimaCompanydidaPassandReview.ItmademewanttopracticemydrillTheywerereallygood.ThePlatoonGuidesworetheirDressBlueUniformsandtheycer-emoniouslyreturnedtheguidonstotheDrillInstructors.AfterthenewbasicMarinesweredismissedtheDrillInstructorsshookourhands.ThenwewentthroughtheCom-mandMuseumandhadlunchdownbytheSanDiegoBay.IwasproudofmycountrythatdayandfeltveryfortunatetobeabletowitnessthoserecruitsreachingtheirgoalsofbecomingUnitedStatesMa-rinesearningtherighttoweartheEagleGlobeandAnchor.NorthSanDiegoYoungMarinesvisitaMarinesCorpsgraduationceremony.Page20ESPRIT