Dakota Richter first set her sights on becoming the National Young Marine of the Year at age thirteen, when she met then-NYMOY Casey Scott at the Nation- al Leadership Schools. Later that same year, and perhaps earlier than expected, she set her heart on attending the Unit- ed States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA). Over the course of the next four years, Dakota worked tirelessly to achieve both of these amazing feats and was reward- ed for her efforts. In May of 2013 she was selected as the National Young Ma- rine of the Year, and seven months later received her appointment to the USCGA. Dakota has just finished her third year at the Academy, where she is studying Na- val Architecture and Marine Engineering. In her own words, “I’m still alive and breathing and I’m becoming an appeal- ing candidate for future graduate pro- grams. Do I like studying boats? Ques- tionable. What I love is the challenge of an engineering degree”. After her second year at the Academy, former YM/SgtMaj Richter served as Waterfront Cadre to incoming “swabs”, where “as a Kentuckian, becoming profi- cient in sailing was a steep learning curve - somehow I managed to keep my own dingy afloat while res- cuing sinking freshmen”.The following semester she served as Master-at-Arms, a 2/c leadership position within the company to support Command Staff and train the 4/c cadets (freshmen). Dakota has been an active member of the Combat Arms team all three years, where she and thirteen male team- mates compete in 3-gun matches throughout New England and amongst fellow service academies. But inarguably, Dakota’s greatest success at the Academy thus far has been her recent selec- tion as Regimental Com- mander - the top cadet and leader of the Corps of Cadets - for the Fall 2017 semester. In this role,she will work with a team of eight in order to support the Com- pany 1/c Commanders,organize Acad- emy-wide events and ultimately lead her 1,000 fellow cadets. Aside from taking on leadership roles, Dakota’s years spent in the Young Marines are exemplified in other areas; her dedi- cation to community service and her love of travel. During her time as a cadet she has repeatedly exceeded the (6-hours per semester) community service requirement, earning commendations for upwards of 30 hours. Within the Coast Guard, Dakota has spent time underway in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic. As part of her cadet training this summer, she will spend time underway in the Ber- ing Sea and is one of two USCGA cadets to have been selected to study the Holocaust in Poland, where she will spend two weeks alongside cadets and midshipmen from three other Service Academies. On her own time (and a her own expense), Dakota continues her travels abroad, al- ready having visited Germany, Ireland, Aus- tria, the Czech Republic, the United King- dom and most recently the Normandy coast and Paris, France. In addition to her cadet training this sum- mer she will be spending time in Bangkok, Thailand, because “Why not?”. Dakota is a passionate advocate for at- tending military service academies, and is always willing to answer questions from prospective cadets - especially when they are members of the pro- gram that set her up for so many successes. - Submitted by Lynne Arnold, Unit Commander, Northern Kentucky (KY)Young Marines A Former NYMOY, Hard-Charging Around the Globe Dakota Richter YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT 11