[EMMAS] No Child Left: Marines recruiting 8-year olds -- NO
che...@cecs.pdx.edu
Cherie
=======
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/5/185145/8553
Marines recruiting 8-year olds -- NO JOKE!
by Yellow Dog Dem Woman
Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 04:51:45 PM PDT
The Marines now seem to be recruiting 8-year olds (got to meet those
recruitment quotas!). Sheesh! This was forwarded to me by a friend,
who is the spouse of a school principal. The principal had found it
frightening that the recruiter seemed to have contacted all county
elementary schools principals. Oh yeah -- I forgot: NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND.
Yellow Dog Dem Woman's diary :: ::
One of the principals who received this email found it "scary," and
commented "Does this look like the young Nazis or what?" In fact, a
photo posted at their website, under the history of the Young Marines,
is shockingly similar to a photo of Hitler Youth.
Chris Hardin, Commanding Officer, Sumner County Young Marines sent this
email:
From: Sumner County Young Marines [mailto:sumnerc...@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 10:47 PM
To: [I've deleted the email addresses of the school principals]
Subject: Sumner County Young Marines
Importance: High
Dear Principals:
My name is Chris Hardin and I am the Commanding Officer for the Sumner
County Young Marines. The reason I am contacting you is to see if my
staff and I may either come into the schools and inform the children of
the program or to see if we can send literature to the school and it be
sent home with the children. We are starting a new session the
beginning of February. My staff and I would like to get the information
to the children no later than January 27th.
Below you will find some information about the program. Please take a
moment and read over it and let me know which option would be
available.
Who we are
The Young Marines is a youth education and service programs for boys
and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines
promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members.
The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a
healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the official youth
program of the U.S. Marine
Corps and the focal point for the Marine Corps' Youth Drug Demand
Reduction efforts.
Membership
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of
high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be
in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings,
in 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has
grown to over 240 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in
46 states, the District of Columbia, and, Germany, Japan and affiliates
in a host of other countries.
Our Volunteers
Young Marine units are community-based programs lead by dedicated adult
volunteers. Many of these volunteers are former, retired, active duty,
or reserve Marines who believe passionately that the values they
learned as Marines had a positive affect on them. It is through these
caring adults that Young Marines learn the inner values of Honor,
Courage and Commitment. Adult volunteers are individually screened by
the National Headquarters based on background information and
recommendations provided with each person's registration.
Training
Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour
orientation program, generally spread out over several weekly meetings.
This orientation program is affectionately called "Boot Camp." The
youth learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies,
close order drill, physical fitness, and military rank structure. After
graduating from Young Marine "Boot Camp", the youth have the
opportunity to learn more new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine
uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Young Marines earn ribbons for
achievement in areas such as leadership, community service, swimming,
academic excellence, first aid and drug resistance education.
R.Lee Ermey, the Young Marines official celebrity spokesperson
The Young Marines are honored to have R. Lee Ermey as their official
celebrity spokesperson. Mr. Ermey garnered worldwide acclaim for his
portrayal of Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley
Kubrik's film Full Metal Jacket (1987). Ermey is the host of the
History Channel's hit show, Mail Call.
Chester, the official mascot of the Young Marines
Chester, the puppy bulldog, is the Young Marines official mascot.
Chester enjoys all the benefits of Young Marine membership such as the
opportunity to earn rank and ribbons, wear the Young Marine uniform,
and a free subscription to the Young Marine Esprit magazine. Chester
sometimes even makes guest appearances at unit meetings, graduations,
and training conferences.
Young Marines Veterans Appreciation Week
For one week in November each year, Young Marine units across the
country celebrate Young Marines Veterans Appreciation Week (YMVAW). The
purpose of the campaign is to challenge our Young Marines to dedicate
some of their time to help our nation's veterans and to demonstrate,
through their actions, their sincere appreciation for our veterans'
service to our country. Unit projects include sending thank you cards
to hospitalized veterans, cleaning up a disabled veterans yard,
visiting veterans in the hospital, or simply setting up a community
function to socialize with local veterans.
Mission
The mission of the Young Marines is to positively impact America's
future by providing quality youth development programs for boys and
girls that nurtures and develops its members into responsible citizens
who enjoy and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Motto
Strengthening the lives of America's youth
Young Marine Obligation
From this day forward, I sincerely promise, I will set an example for
all other youth to follow and I shall never do anything that would
bring disgrace or dishonor upon God, my Country and its flag, my
parents, myself or the Young Marines.
These I will honor and respect in a manner that will reflect credit
upon them and myself.
Semper Fidelis.
Young Marine Creed
Obey my parents and all others in charge of me whether young or old.
Keep myself neat at all times without other people telling me to.
Keep myself clean in mind by attending the church of my faith.
Keep my mind alert to learn in school, at home or at play.
Remember having self-discipline will enable me to control my body and
mind in case of an emergency.
For more information on the Young Marine program, please visit our web
site at www.youngmarines.com
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me on my cell
phone at 349.6167.
Sincerely,
Chris Hardin
Commanding Officer
Sumner County Young Marines
*[street address deleted]*
Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 451-0077 (Home/ Fax)
Email: sumnerc...@bellsouth.net
"Semper Fi"
The recruiter's phone number is listed on their website
--http://www.youngmarines.com (the link to which I do not seem to be
able to embed -- sorry!) -- so I don't feel I'm giving away any private
information.
Interesting that the Young Marine Obligation includes the words,"
shall never do anything that would bring disgrace or dishonor upon
God." Also interesting that #3 of the codes says, "Keep myself clean
in mind by attending the church of my faith." Does that mean children
of atheists need not apply? Or that children who are Wickens are
welcomed?
A former Marine I know had this to say: "Those kids need to be getting
much of the same discipline and fitness through the Boy and Girl Scouts
and not the military." Good -- so it's not just me!!
Stay strong!
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