FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Young Marines a national youth program?
A: Yes. The national headquarters is located in Washington, DC. There are over 300 units nationwide with 10,000+ Young Marines and 3,000+ registered adults. Click here to access the Young Marines national website.

Q: When was the Young Marines organization started?
A: The Young Marines were founded in Waterbury, CT in 1958; however, it became a chartered organization on October 17, 1965, which is the "official birthday" of the Young Marines.

Q: Are both males and females allowed to join the Young Marines?
A: Yes. Our unit consists of approximately 10% female Young Marines.

Q: What ages are eligible to join?
A: Children between the ages of 8 and the completion of high school are eligible.

Q: Does the Young Marines program accept children with disciplinary issues?
A: The program is designed for children in good standing at home and at school. This does not mean that your child has to be perfect, but we do not take children who do not want to be in the program or have a criminal record. Most of our Young Marines joined the program to help them develop discipline and leadership skills.

Q: What is the cost of the program?
A: The initial recruit registration fee is $275 which covers everything a new Young Marine would need. Click here to view the registration requirements and a list of items received. After the initial registration fee, the annual re-registration is $70 per year.

Q:What happens when I register my child in the program?
A: Once your child is registered, he/she will undergo 8 weeks (Saturdays from 0830-1430) of recruit training. This training is a "kid's version" of Marine Corps recruit training. At the end of the 8 weeks, the recruits will graduate to become Young Marines. Click here for more information on recruit training.

Q: What happens if I pay the registration fee and my child does not complete recruit training?
A: In the event that your child does not complete recruit training, you will be refunded the portion of you registration for items that were not received during recruit training. The unit fee portion of registration, approximately $40, will be retained for office supplies, copies, etc. that are used during recruit training.

Q: My child has asthma. Can he/she still join the program?
A:Yes. We have a number of Young Marines with medical conditions such as asthma, ADHD, etc. Our staff helps to ensure that a recruit's medication is administered when needed.

Q: How often does your unit meet?
A: We have drill every other Saturday from 0900-1500. Also, during the year we participate in special events such as parades, color guard opportunities, etc.