• From our National Young Marine of the Year On 21 December 2017, Col Tom Martin, United States Army, retired after over 2 decades of active service to our country. Col Martin’s last billet was as the Director, Drug Testing and Program Policy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In this role, he was also responsible for the Fulcrum Shield Award and maintained an active interest in the Young Marines program. Col Martin provided numerous educational materials and contacts to our program over the last 3 years. He received his ROTC commission into the Army Medical Service Corps in 1990 and entered active service in 1995 after obtaining a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry. He worked in numerous bil- lets around the world on the frontlines of medical science and our nations far flung bases. Given his numerous tours in- volving drug demand reduction programs and testing, he has been hired by Major League Baseball to oversee their testing and prevention programs. We want to congratulate Col Mar- tin on his outstanding career and look forward to working with him in the future. Semper Fidelis, Col Bill Davis, USMC (Ret) National Executive Director, Young Marines Department of Defense Drug Demand Reduction Leader Retires “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” -Alexander Graham Bell. Even though 2017 is ending right before all our eyes, 2018 approaches with new opportunities that we can all take advantage of. This past year, we—as individuals and as a program—have grown in ways that we never could have anticipated. Still, I know that the best is yet to come. In 2017, we impacted millions of lives in our effort against drugs during Red Ribbon Week, the DDR Dash, and hundreds of other events hosted, staffed, and participated in by all of you. We man- aged to earn the Fulcrum Shield Award for the 9th year straight, and our program recorded the highest levels of involvement in DDR that we’ve ever seen. Young Marines all over the country volunteered millions of hours of community service, and we even got a shout-out in the House of Representa- tives! In 2017, I made friends all over the country. Whether from SPACES, the Pearl Harbor Anniversary, Young Marine Birthday Balls, Encampments, Leader- ship Academies, Field Meets, Veteran Memorials, National Symposium, and the Guam/ Iwo Jima Trip, I know that the relationship I’ve built will last a lifetime. And to me, that’s what the Young Marines are all about—getting out there and doing what nobody said we could do. It is about going across the country to a place you have never been and cre- ating bonds with others who we would have never would have met if it weren’t for this program. At the end of every trip, it is always hard to leave these new friends, especially when it feels like you have known each other for your whole lives. Still, we did amazing things this year, and while it can be easy to get stuck in the past, we must look to the future. There are more records to break, more lives to impact, more Fulcrum Shields to win, and more relationships to build. Let’s make a habit of being the best that we can, and doing what nobody says we can do. The challenge is before us, and as Mr. Hendricks says,“Challenge Accepted!” The door is closing on 2017; don’t regret that it is over, burst through the door that 2018 has opened for us. I want to recognize the service and effort of the Division Young Marines of the Year for 2017: Divi- sion 1 YMOY YM/SgtMaj Jordan James, Division 2 YMOY YM/SgtMaj Caleb Maurer, Division 3 YMOY YM/SgtMaj Carson George, Division 5 YMOY YM/ SgtMaj Michael Dulin, and Division 6 YMOY YM/ SgtMaj Anna Saucedo. Our terms may be coming to a close, but it is up to the rest of the Young Marines to step up and fill their shoes. It may be a big task, but I believe in all of you. Semper Fidelis, Young Marines. YM/SgtMaj Angel Luiz Orozco National Young Marine of the Year 2017-2018 Young Marines, Check out the new training videos on line to help you look your best. Squared away sleeves and a sharp cover will help you set the example. It’s all at the Young Marines YouTube Channel along with tons of other great videos. Carpe Diem: Young Marines Seized the Day in 2017 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE 3 Let’s make a habit of being the best that we can, and doing what nobody says we can do.