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ByYMLCplShaneFowlerEnoRiverNCInJunefourYoungMarinesfrommyunitandIheadeddowntoParrisIslandSCforaweekofMarineCorpsexperi-ences.Whenwefrstarrivedweweregreetedbyourdrillinstructorwhode-mandedthatwescreamloudbeforewecouldenterthesquadbay.OnceinthesquadbayweweremetbyotherYoungMarinesfromtheMiltonLewisandDeSotounits.ThroughouttheweekwewerePTdanddrilled.Itwasallreallytoughbutitdefnitelywasntashardastherealrecruitsaretrained.InadditiontothedrillingandPTwegottodootheractivitiesthatrecruitsdo.Wehadthechancetodotheob-staclecourseandrappeltower.Wegotsmallbriefngsonthingssuchastheconfdencecourseandthetrainingpool.Itwasfunbutchallengingandsometimespainful.MyfavoriteofthesethingswaseithertheobstaclecourseortheISMTtheIndoorSimulatedMarks-manshipTrainer.AttheendoftheweekwegottowatchtheMarinesfamilydaymotivationalrunthemorningcolorsceremonyandaUSMCrecruitgraduation.Thecoolestpartofallthatwasseeingtheprecisioninhowtheydidthemovementsandhowdisciplinedtheyallwere.ItwasprettycooltoknowthatIwatchedthecountrysnewestMarinesbeingmade.WedidsomefunchallengingthingsandIthinkattheendoftheweekalltheYoungMarinesgrewinknowledgeandleadershiptraits.ChallengingPainfulandFunByYMCplJoelAbzunSouthlandCAIhadtheopportunitytoparticipateintheannualTeenCom-munityEmergencyResponseTeamCERTCamptrainingwhichiscosponsoredbythepolicedepartmentandYoungMarineshere.SinceIwasthesmallestparticipantinthegroupIbegantothinkthatIwouldsoonhavetroublekeepingupwiththemucholderparticipants.HoweverIwassoonabletobecomepartofasquadthatnotonlyhelpedmethroughoutthecampbutalsomotivatedmetostrivetocontinuedoingmybest.ItwasduringthesquadcompetitionthatImanagedtotwistmyankleandIimmediatelythoughtIwasdonefor.HoweverwhenmyteammatessawthatIhadfallentheoldestmemberpickedmeupandplacedmeonhisbackwhileanothermem-bergavehimsupportwhenhewasrunning.ItwashardworkandmysquadreceivedtheHonorSquadAwardfordemon-stratingexcellentabilities.Thispersonalstoryremind-edmeoftheanecdotesoftheNativeAmericanCrazyHorse.Ireadthatheusedtogathertheyoungonesandtaughtthemtheskillofteam-workbyhavingthemcarryeachotherfortwomiles.Thepurposeofthisactivitycon-tributedtothebondingamongthemprovingthatalloftheyoungwereconsideredbrothersandnoonewastobeleftbehind.IbelievethatthisiswhatkeepsusAmericansstrongtodayunitywithoneanother.ThisiswhatitmeanstobeanAmeri-canandaYoungMarine.BuildingBondsandRescueSkillsJoelAbzunbeingcarriedbyanotherteenintraining.ByYMGySgtLucasJ.WardMidwestCentralILThispastsummerasmalldetailfromtheMidwestCentralYoungMarineswasgivenanoutstandingopportu-nity.WewereaskedtosendourcolorguardtoacompetitionwhichwaspartoftheMarineCorpsLeaguesannualstateconvention.OneofourfellowIl-linoisunitstheChicagosOwnYoungMarinesalsocompeted.Theyprovid-edanoutstandingshowandsodidwe.Weendedupwinningbyasmallmar-ginbutthemostimportantthingwasthatweweretheretoshowourfound-erstheMarineCorpsLeaguethatweareappreciativeoftheirsupportandthatwearelivinguptowhattheymadeustobe.Thistripalsoprovidedagreatbond-ingopportunityforthesevenYoungMarinesincludingmefrommyunitthatattended.Wegottheopportunitytolearnalotabouteachotherandre-allygettoknoweachotherbetter.Wealsogotthechancetogetoutandshowtheworldwhoweareandwhatwestandfor.HavingbeenintheprogramforoverfveyearsnowIamcertainthatthishasbeenoneofthemostinspiringeventsIhavebeentothusfar.Whenwecom-pletedourroutineveteranscameuptouswithtearsbrimmingtheireyestell-ingusjusthowproudtheyweretoseeusoutthereandhowmuchtheyappre-ciatedus.Theyweresohappywithourperfor-mancetheyinvitedustoattendtheirawardsdinnerthateveningandpresentthecolorsonceagain.Needlesstosaywecouldntsayno.WeweretreatedlikemoviestarsAswestoodwaitingfortheceremonytobeginwewereapproachedmanytimesbymemberswhowantedtogetpicturesofusorwithus.ItwasatotallyamazingexperienceandithasinspiredmeallthemoretobethebestYoungMarineIcanbeandIhopeithasdonethesametomycounterparts.TreatedLikeMovieStarsDuringthecompetitiontripMidwestCentralYoungMarinesalsometstatuesofPresidentLincolnandhisfamily.ESPRITFall201327