The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Young Marines polish kids,
teens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on:
Most days, Elizabeth Capawana is busy with things you might expect for a
15-year-old. The
Two Saturdays a
month, she takes on another persona: drill instructor.
Wearing camouflage uniform and black utility boots, she barks orders to
dozens of other kids as they push their way through physical fitness tests and
marching drills at the Naval Air Station base in
Staff Sgt. Capawana is a Young Marine, one of about 10,000 in 291 units
across the country.
Little known to the general public, Young Marines accept members at age 8,
and have seen their ranks swell the past decade.
Supporters say the group's emphasis on academic achievement, physical
development and a drug-free lifestyle is good for children.
Critics say the organization also operates as a recruiting tool for the
all-volunteer military, taking kids who are too young and encouraging them to
join the U.S. Marine Corps when they grow up.
"Programs such as the Young Marines are successful because they give
youth a sense of belonging and a higher purpose in life, yet I think parents
need to ask themselves what that purpose is," said Marietta's Debbie
Clark, a member of Veterans for Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
the abolishment of war.
"The primary function of the military is to be a killing machine, and
it needs to attract future combatants."
"They're not like little kids in cammies playing war," she said.
"It teaches them discipline, respect for the country, independence and
accountability."
Family friendly
Young Marines is a Marine Corps service and education program founded in
1958. It is open to boys and girls age 8 through high school. A nonprofit, the
group receives federal money through a Defense Department anti-drug program.
The annual amount in recent years has ranged from $1 million to $2.4 million.
About 3,300 adult volunteers, some with Marine Corps backgrounds, run the
program across the nation.
Would-be Young Marines must go through a 13-week boot camp to join, then pay
about $60 a year plus uniform costs to participate.
Once in, they're taught Marine Corps history, rifle safety and military
regimen, but not combat skills such as martial arts or war tactics. Ribbons are
awarded for achievements and promotions are granted.
Some who join wash out, but others, like Capawana, who's been a Young Marine
for more than five years, thrive.
"There's a certain integrity that comes with [being a member],"
she said, "and I'm better able to keep my bearings."
For the Capawanas, the Young Marines are a family affair. Penny Capawana, an
adult volunteer, carries the title of adjutant.
Not for recruiting
Elizabeth Capawana and other Young Marines said they are interested in
joining the Marine Corps when they are old enough.
But parents, officers and other Young Marines insist the group is not a
recruiting tool.
"Our main focus is to give them life skills, so they can function in
the adult world whether they go to school, enter the job market or join the
military," said Tracy Wilson, commanding officer of the
Some defense industry analysts said organizations such as the Young Marines
may be necessary to attract people to the military.
"An all-volunteer force is structured around the assumption that there
are people willing to risk their life for middle-class pay," said Loren
Thompson, of the Lexington Institute in
"That's a hard sell — unless you're exposed to the notion early in life
that this is something noble and worthwhile."
Girls grow group
Such concerns haven't slowed the group's growth. The number of Young Marines
has increased markedly in recent years, up from 1,000 in 1993.
One reason,
An increase in patriotism since the terrorist attacks on
Kessler and others in the program said it's important to know what the Young
Marines are not, as well as what they are. First, it is not a program for
troubled youth like Scared Straight.
Second, there is no weapons training, although
firearm safety is offered, and marksmanship is available through an outside
instructor.
Finally, it is not as demanding as it might sound. That was obvious on a
recent Saturday morning at Naval Air Station Atlanta in
The Young Marines grunted and grimaced through sit-ups, toe touches and
pull-ups, but there were smiles all around and encouragement from adult
supervisors, whether the troops got their chins over the bar or not.
Then, when the weather suddenly turned bad and rain began to fall, parents
pulled the Young Marines inside to stay dry and each lunch.
Said one volunteer parent, "We don't want them to
catch cold."
© 2005 Atlanta Journal-Constitution