Temperance Youth Named Young Marine of the Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has named its Division 5 Young Marine of the Year – YM SgtMaj Robert Brushaber, 16, of Temperance, Michigan. He is a member of the Monroe County Young Marines which meets in Monroe, Michigan. Brushaber is a junior at Bedford High School.

Brushaber is the top Young Marine in Division 5 which includes five states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model.

“I feel honored being named Division 5 Young Marine of the Year,” he said. “It is a privilege to be able to leave my name forever engraved in Young Marine history and for other Young Marines to follow in my footsteps.”

Brushaber joined the Young Marines at age 10 and is in his sixth year in the program. He joined to better himself and take advantage of leadership and teamwork opportunities.

He received the Honor Recruit Ribbon for his unit, the Gold Presidential Community Service Award, and he is one of 12 to receive the gold frame for the communications ribbon. Brushaber has been named twice as Young Marine of the Year for his unit, battalion and regiment. He was coined by Sergeant Grigsby (USMC Retired) and by Jeff Frain, the national commander of the Sons of the American Legion.

A graduate of the Michigan State Police Career Academy of Education, Brushaber earned a varsity letter for wrestling at his high school. In addition, he participates in All Mules Matter which helps mentally disabled kids interact socially.

He plans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps as a military police officer.

“Because of the knowledge, discipline, and leadership I have gained from the Young Marines,” he said, “I hope to be successful in the Marine Corps.”

As Division 5 Young Marine of the Year, Brushaber will escort WWII veterans next spring to the annual Reunion of Honor trip to Guam and Iwo Jima.

He is the son of Amber and Jeff Brushaber, both of whom are active with the Monroe County Young Marines. He has a sister and two brothers. His younger brother is a YM Private First Class.

“The Young Marines has helped me gain more confidence and made me a better leader,” Brushaber said. “It has also taught me the danger of drugs and peer pressure. I now have the confidence to go out in the community to teach others the dangers of drugs.”

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.

Brushaber 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 41 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.