Miramar Young Marines Named Unit Of The Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has named the Miramar Young Marines the “Division 6 Unit of the Year.” The Miramar unit meets at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. Division 6 in the Young Marines program includes six states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, and Arizona. The unit commander is Bret A. Righthouse.

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The program promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members, and it focuses on character building, leadership, and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. There are 235 units throughout the United States, and each unit is led and guided by adult volunteers.

“I love the Young Marines program,” Unit Commander Righthouse said, “because it changes the youth members into outstanding, motivated, caring leaders. Successful Young Marines have common traits such as honor, commitment, dedication to duty, selflessness, exceptional leadership, and compassion.”

Miramar Young Marines has 49 youth members and 5 Adult Volunteers.

The unit honors the country and its veterans by participating in Color Guards and Honor Guards throughout the county, from Padre baseball games to Little League games, service member memorial services, city functions, and Memorial Day events. The unit conducts flag folding ceremonies for deceased service members - lowering, folding, and presenting the flag to family members.

Miramar Young Marines spread the message of Drug Demand Reduction throughout the year. They distribute DDR materials at their individual schools and churches, and they staff DDR booths at many community events.

“I believe Miramar Young Marines earned this award because the youth members and the unit staff have courage, commitment, and honor,” Unit Commander Righthouse said. “We strive to improve the unit on a daily basis by thinking outside the box in order to improve ourselves, the unit, and the Young Marines program as a whole.”

For more information about Miramar Young Marines, call Susan Righthouse, Executive Officer at 858-538-7443 or email: YM_Miramar@yahoo.com.

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 235 units with 8,000 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Okinawa with affiliates in other countries.

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