Local Teen Named Young Marine of the Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has named its Division 3 Young Marine of the Year – YM SgtMaj Samuel Styes, 16, of Harvest, Alabama. He is a member of the Rocket City Young Marines which meets in Huntsville, Alabama under the command of Sheryl Herron. Styes is a junior at Sparkman High School.

Styes is the top Young Marines member in the southeast which includes six states: Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model.

"It's an honor to be named the Young Marine of the Year for Division 3,” Styes said. “I am excited about what I can do to help the organization. Being able to continue the dedicated work of those who have gone before me is something I’m willing to step up to the plate and accomplish.”

He joined the Young Marines at age 13 and is in his fourth year in the program.

“I am the first Young Marine from my unit to go to an Advanced Leadership School, the first Young Marine from Alabama to be chosen as a Division Young Marine of the Year and the first in my unit to be promoted to a Sergeant Major,” Styes said.

Styes is a Youth Worship Leader and plays base and acoustic guitar in his church band. He is a platoon leader in Junior ROTC. In addition, he is a member of his school’s History Club and is particularly interested in military history.

“I am passionate about serving our country in the military,” he said, “and I hope to be accepted by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, or go to a college to receive a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I hope to become an officer in the United States Marines, and if that happens, I would like to continue my flying heritage and become an aviator.”

As Division 3 Young Marine of the Year, Styes will escort WWII veterans next spring to the annual Reunion of Honor trip to Guam and Iwo Jima.

Styes is the son of Jill and Don Styes, and Jill is the executive officer of the Rocket City Young Marines. He has two older brothers.

“The Young Marines has helped me become the person I am today by teaching me the core values of leadership, discipline, teamwork, and integrity,” Styes said. “These principles are the rocks on which I use in day-to-day life. The program has helped me realize my goals.”

How it works

The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Young Marine goes through a series of selection processes starting at the unit level, going through battalion, regiment and on to the division. Then one Young Marine of the Year is selected from each division.

From these six winners, one will be named the National Young Marine of the Year.

Styes will represent his division in competition with five other division Young Marines of the Year for the title of National Young Marine of the Year which will be announced at the Adult Leaders’ Conference on Saturday, May 11, in San Antonio, Texas.

"I am very proud of the 2018 division winners," said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. "Each winner radiates qualities of leadership, self-confidence and good citizenship. In addition, each lives a healthy drug free lifestyle which is a cornerstone of the Young Marines. It will be quite a challenge to select just one as the National Young Marine of the Year."

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 270 units with 9,000 youth and 2,600 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the website at: http://www.YoungMarines.com.