Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54I was by far the weakest rider of the group, and they seemed to take an extra pleasure in passing me on the trail, but I also noticed an awareness from them that belied their concerns for their horses as well as their peers. Even for me, each day brought on more confidence and the commitment to tackle new adventures that I wouldn’t have had the courage to take on the day before. For those who’ve read about it… a saddle sore is a real thing, and my knees were screaming at the end of each ride…but these concerns dimmed in compari- son to the gains. Each day, we got better and better. Each day the Young Marines built on individual skills, but also bonded and melded as a team. Having been in our organization for more than 20 years, I’ve always loved being around Young Marines and have always been buoyed by their ability to come together, raising their own standards…as well as the public’s opinion of our youth… and this trip just cemented that. They came to the ranch with different levels of experience, from different backgrounds… but they transformed into ranch hands who made us proud. In all my years in this program, I can say with all assurance that this experience was by far the most rewarding experi- ence I’ve had in the Young Marines. I learned more about leadership, and even overcoming my own personal fears and limitations than in any other event I’ve participated in as an adult… within or outside of our program. Perhaps the best feeling for me was the caliber of people we worked with at the Dryhead Ranch. They did an exem- plary job at personifying a noble culture that’s all but been removed from what most kids and adults can experience in our country. Working right alongside the ranchers were their children, aging from 2 to 7. These children quickly became part of our family. The very first night, I was enjoying a con- versation with 5-year-old,Cassidy and I jokingly asked if she’d be able to teach me how not to fall off a horse. Her response was to stretch out both arms to the side and exclaim,“All you need is balance.” Seems to me that’s a correct answer to so many issues that plague us today. A testimonial from one of our Young Marines: “I would highly recommend this experience for all Young Marines, because even if you don’t know how to ride a horse, they teach you everything you need to know. The cowboys were very kind and respectful with good manners and taught through setting a good example. I learned that you can be tough and strong without using profan- ity. Knowledge, kindness and manners are strong assets a person can possess. Our Young Marines could learn cooperation with others, make new friendships, build trust as a team, openness to new adventures like herding cattle, and discipline to do hard work (put in fence posts).” While I’m disappointed that we won’t offer the Cowboy Ex- perience in 2017 due to budgetary restrictions, I would strive to get my name on the list when it mounts up again in 2018. I created a Facebook page called “Young Marines Cow- boy Experience 2016.” If you want to see pictures of the Young Marines, the crew or the ranch. Let me know and I’ll give you access to it. 40 YOUNG MARINES ESPRIT ONLINE