Youth Leadership And Service Program Forming in Gulf Shores

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announces a new unit forming in Elberta, Alabama - the Gulf Shores Young Marines. It will be led by Unit Commander Clifford Zack, a resident of Pensacola, Florida. Parents and children are welcome to learn more about the program from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at VFW Post 5658, 24230 U.S. 98, Elberta, Alabama.

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. The program focuses on character building, leadership, self-discipline, and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Zack became the unit commander of the Young Marines of Pensacola in 2018. He stepped down from the Young Marines of Pensacola to start the Gulf Shores Young Marines.

“The town of Elberta shows tremendous support for the Young Marines program,” he said,” especially the VFW and the Gulf Shores Marine Corps League. Starting a new unit gives us the opportunity to enrich the lives of our youth to become better citizens and leaders for our future.”

“Every child deserves a place where they belong and can thrive,” Zack said. “Working with these kids gives me and the adult volunteers the chance to help them develop leadership skills, self-discipline, and a sense of pride.”

The Young Marines' objectives are:

• To promote the physical, moral, and mental development of its members
• To advocate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through continual drug prevention and resistance education
• To instill in its members’ the ideals of honesty, fairness, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, attention to duty, love of God, and fidelity to the United States of America and its institutions
• To stimulate interest in and respect for academic achievement and the history and traditions of the United States of America
• To promote physical fitness through physical activities including participation in athletic events and close order drill

“Clifford Zack displays impressive leadership skills and a strong commitment to youth,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “I have no doubts that the Gulf Shores Young Marines is off to a great start, offering unique experiences to youth in the Elberta, Alabama area.”

The Gulf Shores Young Marines will participate in local civic activities such as providing color guards for athletic events, engaging with local veterans, marching in local parades, and promoting good citizenship.

In addition, there are local and national leadership schools as well as travel opportunities such as visiting Pearl Harbor; participating in National Navajo Code Talkers Day; and joining national Young Marines summer events that focus on different activities each year, for example: wilderness adventures, Space Camp, Flight Academy, working at a cattle ranch, white water rafting, scuba diving, sailing, and visiting American historical sites.

Zack has five children one of whom retired from the Young Marines in 2019, and his youngest child has been in the program for eight years.

For more information, visit the unit’s website at https://youngmarines.org/unit/gulfshores/page or call Clifford Zack at 850-316-0631.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through high school graduation. 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 more than 238 units with 6,100 youth and 2,100 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://youngmarines.org.