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Program teaches core values to Young Marines
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Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Mitrook (left) discusses the evening's Young Marines agenda wih Sgt. Mackenzie Godbout. Reminder Publications photo by Lori O'Brien
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By Lori O'Brien
Correspondent
Honor. Courage. Commitment.
These core values are at the heart of every Marine, and for the young people who are part of Westover's Young Marines unit they are words to live by each day.
During a visit to Westover Air Reserve Base on July 21, members of the Young Marines began practicing formation at 1800 hours, followed by drills and announcements of upcoming assignments.
The Young Marines gathered in the base hangar at Westover which was particularly hot and after formation the recruits requested to remove their jackets for the duration of the evening. Their request was granted by Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Mitrook, Commanding Officer, United States Marine Corps.
Sgt. Maj. Mitrook, a retired Marine, spends countless hours behind the scenes for the local Young Marines unit when he isn't working as a mechanic at Artioli Dodge in Enfield, Conn. and he loves every minute of it.
He explained that what is most important to him and the other volunteers is that these kids learn to make good choices in life in particular to stay off alcohol and drugs.
If the young people interviewed that evening are an indication of the caliber of all the young people in the platoon, Mitrook will get his wish.
Westover's unit, which began in October of 1996, is one of more than 190 units across the country with membership reaching more than 8,000 members. The Young Marines organization began in 1958 when a small group of Marine Corps League members from Waterbury, Conn., formed the first program.
The unit in Chicopee is lead by a dedicated group of adult volunteers, spearheaded by Sgt. Maj. Mitrook. Many of the volunteers are retired, former, reserve or active duty Marines who strongly believe that the values they learned as Marines had a positive effect on them and want to share the importance of those values with young people. Volunteers serve as mentors, role models and instructors.
One of the volunteers is Platoon Commander Edwin Rodriguez of Holyoke, who served in the Marine Corps Reserves with Sgt. Maj. Mitrook many years ago. He had just returned from a national Civil War Encampment exercise, along with fellow volunteer Kevin Jandreau of Springfield, a Commanding Officer of the Civil War Adventure.
Rodriguez and Jandreau provided adult supervision to three Young Marines from the unit during the nine-day trip that featured excursions to Washington, D.C., as well as visits to several battlefields including Gettysburg. The three Young Marines participating in the exercise were Sgt. Nicole Miller, Cpl. Ryan Dolan, and Pvt. Timothy Cartagena.
Rodriguez said the young people enjoyed having a chance to see first hand where and how battles were fought.
"The experience makes it a living history," he said.
Young Marine membership is open to boys and girls ages eight to 18. Exceptions can be made to allow those over 18 to stay in the program until they finish high school or reach their 20th birthday, whichever is first.
After joining the unit, young people undergo a 26-hour orientation affectionately called Boot Camp. During this time period, young people learn Young Marine subjects ranging from history, physical fitness and customs and courtesies to close order drill and military rank structure.
Sgt. Maj. Mitrook stressed that although the unit is part of the U.S. Marine Corps' official youth program to the Department of Defense for Youth Drug Demand Reduction, it is not a recruiting force for the U.S. Marine Corps. The goal of the program is to instill the core values of the Marines honor, courage and commitment to each of its members.
Once young people "graduate" from boot camp, they continue a character-building process that can begin a lifelong pursuit as productive and contributing citizens in their communities, according to Sgt. Maj. Mitrook. Young Marines are also eligible to learn new skills, earn rank and ribbons and wear the Young Marines uniform. Unit activities range from first aid, drug resistance education and leadership training to participation in parades and community events.
From 9-year-old Pfc. Brittany Twining of Hampden and 11-year-old Pvt. Dylan Donze of South Hadley to Lance Cpl. Paul Munzert, 13, of Feeding Hills and Sgt. Mackenzie Godbout of South Hadley, all were a cross section of the platoon that meets weekly at the base.
For Sgt. Godbout, she enlisted to follow in her father Richard's footsteps he recently retired from the Army and to learn leadership skills and participate in challenges and adventures offered by the organization.
Pfc. Twining, fresh out of boot camp, enlisted because she wanted to learn discipline, drills and military courtesies, plus she likes "learning new stuff." She understands that currently her responsibilities are limited but she won't hesitate to say "lock it" to a private who may be talking during an inappropriate time.
Lance Cpl. Munzert has been a Young Marine for almost three years and "loves the program." He especially enjoys the history aspect of the Young Marines, as well as learning leadership skills and how to tie knots.
Pvt. Donze is also glad he joined the Young Marines because the program offers many challenges which he enjoys. He also likes making new friends, seeing new places, and learning valuable skills including first aid training and compass reading.
The Young Marines interviewed all acknowledged they have tried to convince their friends to join but to no avail yet.
The Young Marines program also offers national programs including SPACES (Summer Programs of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments and Schools), the ACE (Army Cadet Exchange) program, and the Hugh O'Brien Youth Conference. At press time, Sgt. Justin Gelgut, 17, of Westfield, is in Germany participating in the ACE program, and Sgt. Jason Franciosa of East Longmeadow is in Washington, D.C., participating in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Conference.
New recruits are being sought for the fall and parents interested in attending an orientation session about the Young Marines are asked to contact Sgt. Maj. Mitrook at (413) 525-0924 or via email at usmce9ed@charter.net.
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