History of the
Young Marine Program
After World War II, members of the Marine Corps League discussed the possibility of establishing a Marine Corps League youth program as a civic project for detachments and to create interest in the League. For historical purposes, the birth of the Young Marines was in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1958. The official charter was issued on 17 October 1965 and thereafter the program spread throughout the country. Although chartered as a League Sponsored Organization, the Young Marines began to function as a subsidiary organization independently in 1974. In 1975 membership was extended to included participation of females so that all youth could benefit. By 1978 the Young Marine bylaws were approved and adopted.
In 1980 the Young
Marine program was granted the status as a Youth Educational
Organization with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classification
of 501(C)3. In July 1993 the United States Marine Corps designated
the Young Marine Program as "The focal organization for fulfilling
its participation in the Department of Defense's Drug Demand
Reduction Activities." Marine Corps Order 5000.20 officially
recognized the Young Marines and published policy to support the
program.
Copied from the magazine "Young Marines Network, Jan/Feb 1997