Local Teen named Young Marine of the Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announced the Division 4 Young Marine of the Year - YM/SgtMaj Benjamin Shaddinger, 17, of Mandeville, Louisiana. He is a member of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Young Marines in Harvey, Louisiana. He is a junior at Mandeville High School.

Shaddinger is the top Young Marine in Division 4 which includes nine states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Over the course of the year, he will travel to units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other Young Marines in the program.

In addition, Shaddinger will escort WWII veterans in March 2022 to the annual Reunion of Honor trip which takes place in Guam and Iwo Jima. The island of Iwo Jima is open only one day each year for this special reunion of Japanese and American veterans. The Reunion of Honor was cancelled in 2021 because of COVID.

“I want to join the Marines, and Okinawa is where I want to be stationed,” he said. “To have the chance to see the area in real life for the first time is amazing.”

Shaddinger joined the Young Marines at age ten. His parents urged him to check it out, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions he ever made.

According to Benjamin, he has accomplished personal achievements, awards, and the honor to teach all the other Young Marines that come into his unit. He is on the Mandeville High School varsity wrestling team, and he is the assistant commander of the Mandeville High JROTC PT team.

“Benjamin Shaddinger’s rapid rise through our program is testimony to his personal drive,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. "All our division winners demonstrate great qualities of leadership and reverence to veterans. Each lives a healthy drug-free lifestyle which is a foundation of the Young Marines program."

Following high school, Shaddinger hopes to attend college, join the U.S. Marine Corps as an officer, and travel the world.

He is the son of Colby (father) and Stephanie (stepmother) Shaddinger. He has three siblings including Ryland Shaddinger who is Benjamin’s second in command.

“The Young Marines has completely changed me as a person,” Shaddinger said. “It has instilled discipline, made me more outgoing, helped me take the lead, and taught me how to be part of a team. Because of the Young Marines, I have had amazing opportunities.”

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 graduating from Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, maintaining high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.

Shaddinger will represent Division 4 in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year.

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 over 235 units with 5,700 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.