Local Teen Named Top Ten At National Leadership Academy

Youth member of the Young Marines, YM/GySgt Christian Rutherford, 17, from Coventry, Rhode Island, was named a top ten graduate of the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy (NLA) held in Warrenton, Oregon. Rutherford is a member of the Rhode Island Young Marines in Cranston, Rhode Island.

The Young Marines is a national youth leadership and service program for boys and girls aged 8 through high school graduation. The leadership academy focuses on teaching Young Marines leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline.

Rutherford trained for two weeks to become a better leader alongside Young Marines from across the country. After physical and written tests, leadership classes, and close order drill, he was selected as a top ten graduate of the Advanced Leadership School.

“The Advanced Leadership School is the highest level of leadership training offered by the Young Marines,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “YM/GySgt Rutherford will take his new leadership skills back to the Rhode Island Young Marines and his community.”

He joined the Young Marines in 2016 and has been in the program for more than 5 years. He was invited to the NLA because of his flexibility, confidence, and dedication.

“The Young Marines program has molded me into a leader, made me a better person, and allowed me to connect to a vast number of people,” Rutherford said. “The National Leadership Academy was an exceptional experience and I’ll cherish the memories for the rest of my life.”

Rutherford’s is the son of Heather Rutherford. He has three siblings, one of which is also a member of the Young Marines. He is a homeschooled senior in high school and has plans to attend a four-year college.

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 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 235 units with 8,000 youth and 2,500 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://www.YoungMarines.com.