California Teen Named Division Young Marine of the Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, named its Division 6 Young Marine of the Year – YM SgtMaj Megan Lynch, 16, of Fountain Valley, California. She is a member of the Southeast County Young Marines under the command of Brian Dochnahl. The unit meets in Seal Beach, California. Lynch is a junior at Inspire Charter School.

Lynch is the top Young Marine in Division 6 which includes six states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, and Arizona. Over the course of the year, she will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model.

“Being named Division 6 Young Marine of the year is such a powerful feeling,” Lynch said. “I feel motivated and extremely excited for the next chapter of my Young Marine career. I can’t wait to inspire passion and positivity.”

Lynch joined the Young Marines at age nine and is in her seventh year in the program. She joined to follow her brother’s footsteps. An additional aspect of the Young Marines that attracted her was the opportunity to learn to be a mentor and leader of her peers and friends.

She graduated second from the Adult Leadership Symposium at which she is one of three Young Marines in charge of the “Team Building” folder that will be a part of the National Library. She also worked on a Young Marines App that will be released soon.

She helped development retention guidelines and was invited to participate in the Public Affairs Training Course, ultimately assigned to the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Trip. Lynch participated in several SPACES trips: Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska, FEMA/CERT, and ORME.

Outside the Young Marines, Lynch is interning as a teacher. She is vice president of the Bible Club, member of the SCUBA club, member of the Spanish Club and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Hobbies include reading, writing, drawing, singing, and photography.

Following high school, Lynch plans to attend Biola University in La Mirada, California, and earn a degree in Education and English with a minor in Theology. She plans to teach middle school English. Also, she will be joining summer mission trips through her church and will continue as an adult volunteer with the Young Marines program.

As Division 6 Young Marine of the Year, Lynch will escort WWII veterans this spring to the annual Reunion of Honor trip to Guam and Iwo Jima.

"Megan Lynch is an exceptional individual," said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. "In fact, each division winner shares the qualities of leadership, self-confidence, and good citizenship, and 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."

She is the daughter of Julia Lynch, who is the executive officer of the unit, and Chad Lynch who is an adult volunteer. Lynch has a brother involved in the program - YM/MSgt Connor Lynch.

“My Young Marines experience has, without a doubt, shaped my goals and has given me the tools to achieve them,” Lynch said. “Interacting with adults in various leadership positions has given me the confidence and practice necessary to be an effective communicator, leader, and teacher. It has taught me self-discipline and cooperation. The Young Marines contributed to my appreciation of veterans and my knowledge about the danger of drugs in a society filled with them.

“All in all, I am a better version of myself because of all the virtues bestowed upon me throughout the last seven years. And for that, I say thank you to the program that made me, me.”

How it works

The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Division Young Marine of the Year must meet vigorous requirements, such as obtaining the rank of YM GySgt, graduating Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.

Lynch will represent her 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 in May 2019.

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.