About Us
About Upstate Young Marines
We are the Upstate Young Marines, located in Greenville, SC and are proud to be a part of our nation’s premiere, award-winning program for boys and girls between the ages of eight and eighteen.The Young Marines strengthens the lives of America's youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring our veterans, good citizenship, community service, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building and leadership and promotes a lifestyle that is conducive to being productive members of society. The Young Marines is the premier youth organization in its Drug Demand Reduction efforts.
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through the completion of high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings, in 1959, with one unit and handful of boys, the organization has grown respectively with units throughout the country and overseas.
Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over several weekly meetings. This orientation is called Recruit Training. The youth learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies, close order drill, physical fitness, and military rank structure. After graduating from Young Marine Recruit Training, the youth have the opportunity to learn even more new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Young Marines earn ribbons for achievement in areas such as leadership, community service, swimming, academic excellence, first aid and drug resistance education.
Proven Leadership
Our Unit Commander is United States Marine Corps Retired Sergeant Major James Roberts, Jr., who served 30 years in the military. He is assisted by a full Command Staff and Adult Volunteers (AVs).
What We Do
Upstate Young Marines stay involved through:
Young Marines learn new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marines uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Young Marines earn ribbons for achievement in areas such as leadership, community service, swimming, academic excellence, first aid, and drug resistance education.
The Young Marines program encourages unit participation in local civic activities, such as providing color guard for athletic events, marching in local parades and activities promoting and reinforcing good citizenship.
Year round, Young Marines show deep devotion to military veterans from any era and from any branch of service. Young Marines participate in Veterans Appreciation Week to show our country’s appreciation and help our nation’s veterans in their local communities.
The Young Marines National Summer Programs consist of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments, and Schools (SPACES). Some of the exciting SPACES events include: Junior Leadership School, Senior Leadership School, Advanced Leadership School, the Great American History Adventure, Space Camp, National Flight Academy, Drill and Ceremonies School, Orienteering, Sailing, Cowboy Experience, National Outdoor Leadership School, SCUBA and Master SCUBA Diver Schools, and the National Encampment.
