• From our National Young Marine of the Year YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT 3 By YM/SgtMaj Angel L. Orozco 2017 National Young Marine of the Year I am grateful for becoming the National Young Marine of the Year 2017–2018. I would like to thank my family and all those who have had a hand in my journey. Moreover, I want to ask the entirety of our organization to join me in bidding a fond farewell to YM/SgtMaj Joseph Bacon and thank him for his service to the Young Marines as the National Young Marine of the Year for 2016–2017. While I have watched many Young Marines come before me, and I know that many will follow after, but I have my eyes set on the immediate future. It is my vision and dream to make this organization the best that it can be. For me, this is not a time to relax, but instead a time to buckle down and chase after the next goal. I may have my ambitions, but there are a few words I want to share with every Young Marines across our nation: Many think that a leader sits on a throne on top of the pyramid, but a leader is someone who is willing to carry more responsibility than others, someone who is willing to work harder for those they lead. A leader doesn’t sit on top, a leader supports the bottom; a leader stays humble and hungry. I was chosen as the National Young Marine of the Year to serve you all, and I will give all that I am for my Young Marines. If nothing else, I hope you remember that we, as Young Marines, must stay unified; we are a team. We must support one another in everything that we do and stand up for what is right, shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow Young Marines no matter what we face. Whether this is standing up against drugs in our communities or bullying in our schools, we have to remember that we are in this together. I encour- age you to push the boundaries, expand the organi- zation, and let America see what we do. I challenge Young Marines to get Project Alert cer- tified, earn DEA devices, and put a red cord on every single wrist that we cross paths with. If there is anything you would like to share with me, I encourage you to reach out. Send me an email and let me know about ways to make this organi- zation better. I know that together we can create change. Anne Frank described our initiative best, remarking,“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Don’t wait, Young Marines—start improving the world right now. East Valley Young Marines of Mesa, Arizona, under the command of Dana Lippincott. was named Na- tional Unit of the Year The announcement was made Thursday,May 4,at the annual Adult Leadership Con- ference in Las Vegas, Nevada. “This unit embodies all that best represents our pro- gram - from community service to Red Ribbon Week; from veterans appreciation to living and promoting a healthy, drug free lifestyle.” Annually, one unit is selected from each of the six division. From these six winners, one is named the official “National Unit of the Year.” “Without a great staff, the unit would not be able to provide opportunities for the youth in the pro- gram. Assigning responsibilities and tasks to our parents and staff provides for unity and camaraderie throughout the entire unit”, said Commander Dana Lippincott East ValleyYoung Marines also received the Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Division Award for its impressive drug demand reduction efforts.This is the third con- secutive year that the East Valley unit has received recognition from the DEA. Last year, the East Valley Young Marines won the United States Department of Defense Fulcrum Shield Award, which recognizes military-affiliated youth organizations that have made intensive ef- forts at spreading anti-drug messages in their com- munities. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Young Marines announced the Young Marines unit winners of the Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Award. The award honors six units, one award per division, for drug demand reduction efforts through community education and peer-to-peer role modeling. The awards were presented by Tammy Lomax Simp- son, program manager, DEA, Community Outreach at the Young Marines Annual Adult Leaders’Conference held in May 4. The winners are: Division One – Three Rivers Young Marines, New London, CT Division Two – Manassas Young Marines, Manassas, VA Division Three – East Central Alabama Young Ma- rines of Jacksonville, AL Division Four – Pueblo Young Marines, Pueblo West, CO Division Five – Miami Valley Young Marines, Dayton, OH Division Six – East Valley Young Marines, Mesa, AZ The award is named in memory of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena who served as a Ma- rine. He became a special agent with the DEA, and was abducted and brutally murdered in 1985 at the age of 37. Young Marines, DOD, DEA Winners Announced at ALC