Welcome to the new WNY Young Marines Website. Over the next few weeks we will be unveiling our new site in bits and pieces, so please chack back often for news, information, and many updates on our unit.

"Our Mission Statement"

 Being a member of the Young Marines is not a right. It is a privilege that is earned through hard work, determination, training, and discipline. Our team focuses on several key areas of instruction, and relies heavily on a military based discipline routine.  We are not the boy scouts, nor the girl scouts, we are the Young Marines. In addition to supplying a passing physical, and other associated paperwork, we must stress to all parents that we have a very aggressive training schedule and that absences, or refusal to train can lead to dismissal from the program. The individual platoons learn to rely on each and every person's strengths and when one is missing, the entire platoon suffers.   It is absolutely IMPERATIVE that all parents, and young adults understand that this is a military like, and military disciplined unit. The Staff, especially the unit Drill Instructors will be aggressive. NEVER will a young marine be struck, or sworn at, however they will be yelled at, they will have a Drill Instructor "In their Face", and they will be IPT'd (Incentive Physical Training - a.k.a. Pushups, sit-ups, body builders, etc). This organization is not for the meek or timid. It is for hard charging young men and women who are willing to put in long hours and expend serious energy in the pursuit of our goals. Parents are strongly encouraged to communicate with their children prior to enrollment in our program to explain that this is serious business not to be taken lightly. We are strict in our resolve, and enforce our rules for the benefit of all of the members. Tardiness and absenteeism is not tolerated.

                                                       1.)  Physical Training.

                                                Not every young man or woman is right for this type of organization.  Our physical training regimen can be described as nothing less than intense. We have adopted a modified "Daily Seven" from the United States Marine Corps, and that set of exercises opens each and every training session. We then move on to our physical conditioning plans which include distance and sprint runs, push ups, pull ups, body builders, relay races, cardiovascular exercises, basic martial arts, and more.  We expect nothing less than absolute maximum effort during our training cycles, and stringent disciplinary action is taken against those who do not comply.  Our goal is to have every Young Marine in excellent physical shape.

                                                      2.)  Classroom Instruction and Testing

                                                          Our program relies heavily on the use of classroom style training sessions that build not only a wealth of knowledge, but skills needed for daily living. Our training plan encompasses subjects from Basic Military Courtesies and Customs through Land Navigation and Public Speaking. No one is a "non-participant" during our classroom sessions. All of the Young Marines understand very well that we are a team, and that everyone must contribute to the team to make it great.  Several times per year our Young Marines will go through internally designed testing and evaluation to to determine where the unit as a whole, and each individual Young Marine needs additional focus in order to meet the qualifications required to continue in the program. We will work closely with those needing extra help, but out testing schedule is in place and is used to determine those young men and women who cannot continue in the program.       

                                                      3.)  Report Card Review

                                                            Each and every quarter throughout the school year, our Command Staff and Drill Instructors will review each and every Young Marine's school report card. Very little leniency is given to those with failing marks. Each report card is reviewed and weighed in two ways. We look for an MINIMUM overall "C" average, and also we look for all classes in a passing status. Those Young Marines who cannot meet the requirements are reviewed by the unit staff members, and special attention is given to those particular Young Marines. Any Young Marine that fails to meet these requirements for two concurrent grading periods is released from the program until such time as the Unit Staff, in cooperation with the parents determine that the situation has been rectified.

"Mother of All Care Packages"

We never do anything small, and this is no different. Our YM's have been collecting items for a massive care package that we are sending out to a Marine currently in Iraq fighting the war on terror and doing an outstanding job of showing the Arab community that we are not all thugs and killers.  The package is scheduled to go out on Feb 19th, so check back then for pictures of the collection. As of today (02-14-2005) we have well over 200 lbs to send!