MY YM UNIT By YM/Cpl Megan Tran Antelope Valley (CA) Being a Young Marine on the outside doesn’t mean you are marching on the streets or at school.To me,being a Young Marine on the outside means to conduct yourself with the same discipline as you use in the Young Marines. For example, when you are listening. You are listening to instructions, orders, and learning. You do this mostly every- where you go.When you are listening to somebody it is very important that you listen to everything someone tells you. Unless you want to make the wrong de- cisions and perhaps get in trouble. You do not want to distract yourself from listening, or else you will miss out on some important information, then you won’t know what you are doing. In the Young Marines, when you are listening to whoever is speaking you are not to be disrespectful. In the Young Marines, it is always important to listen. If you do not listen and you start ques- tioning there can be consequences like getting called out, embarrassment, or questioning of what you are doing. Some other things that that can hap- pen if you don’t listen can also be that you start doing something else (other than what the others are doing) and this might cause trouble. Listening plays a big role in what your are doing and where are you going. It doesn’t matter where you are, you have to listen. It is your choice to listen, if you want or else deal with the consequences that may occur because you weren’t listening. Antelope Valley: Being a Young Marine on the Outside YM/Pvt Bradley Kuehner Westover (MA) On May 3rd it happened.My dad called me and said the unthinkable. “Would you like to see the HMX-1 helicop- ter?”. And you know exactly what I said... Yes! HMX-1 is Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Their job is to transport the President and Vice Presi- dent of the United States. In my mind I knew it was going to be the longest two weeks of my life. It would be a long car ride. Finally, on May 15th I woke up with a smile on my face.It was the day. We stopped to get breakfast and I was still smiling. A few hours later I was in Groton, CT. We met USMC Cpl Mathew Clapp at a hotel. I gave him my Westover Young Marines challenge coin. He liked it. Fi- nally we arrived at the hangar. Cpl Clapp knocked on tghe door, and we were let in. Inside, there were two Marines fully locked and loaded. I turned my head and there it sat, the helicopter (a Marine helicopter which has the President aboard uses the call sign “Marine One”). It was amazing. I took many pictures of the helicopter. Then I was asked if I wanted to go inside the helicopter, of course I said yes! The two Marines on duty opened the stairs and we walked up and there was President Trump’s seat. I sat down and was surprised that it wasn’t very soft. I stood up to take a closer look at everything and Corporal Clapp asked me if I wanted to sit in the pilot’s seat. I sat down and it was softer than the President’s chair. It was awe- some. We thanked Cpl Clapp for assisting us in this unforge- table visit. After our visit,we went and purchased souvenirs.I bought a pin, stickers, a wallet and a patch. We left to eat lunch. It was an amazing trip, one that I will never forget. Westover: A Memorable, Close Up Look at Marine One By YM/PFC Owen Ingalls Imagine School at North Port (FL) Another year of school has come and gone, and with it, a host of ad- ventures with my Young Marines unit. This is the perspective of an Imagine School (FL) Young Marine. The year began with my promo- tion to YM/PFC, and ended with a trip to Camp La-No-Che in Paisley. FL, for a week-long regimental en- campment, as well as an elemen- tary reading refreshment camp. It was a lot of fun to help elementary grade kids to get ready for another school year. Through this past year, I have experienced new activities including shooting (bullets, shells, and paintballs),kayaking,and repli- ca drill (using a plastic model rifle). I also took a trip to Parris Island, SC, one of the two Marine Corps Recruit Depots, and I participated in a ceremony (my first) placing a wreath at an Iwo Jima Memorial (see photo). I’ve made new friends in other units across the state of Florida. With this coming year, I hope to be promoted to Lance Corporal, and successfully complete Junior Lead- ership School. In four more years, I very much look forward to earning the rank of Young Marines Sergeant Major! Imagine School: A YM/PFC Looking Forward to Years Ahead A solemn wreath placement ceremony. 6 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT Online