Youth Leadership And Service Program Forming in Norman

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announces a new unit forming in Norman, Oklahoma - the Sooner Young Marines. It will be led by Unit Commander Sal A. Cenicacelaya, of Norman.

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.

“Feeling the need to continue my volunteer work with youth programs,” Cenicacelaya said, “I decided to start up a new Young Marines unit here in Norman. My primary focus is to build a solid foundation of Adult Volunteers before we recruit interested young people.”

Cenicacelaya served in the Marine Corps for four years and was honorably discharged in 1987. He has coached youth wrestling programs and youth soccer.

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

“Sal Cenicacelaya 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 Sooner Young Marines will be a successful unit offering unique experiences to youth in the Norman, Oklahoma area.”

The Sooner Young Marines will participate in local civic activities, such as providing color guards for athletic events, engaging with the local veteran population, marching in local parades and activities, and promoting and reinforcing 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.

“I have had a great deal of help from other Young Marines Adult Volunteers from across the nation,” Cenicacelaya said. “They have been an essential asset to me in building the new unit here in Norman.”

For more information on how to join and volunteer, call Sal Cenicacelaya at 973-713-7157 or visit us at https://youngmarines.org/unit/sooner/page.

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.