No. The youths do NOT attend a "military-style" resident program. This is not a program where you send your children for an extended period. On average, units meet once or twice per week year round.

Yes. Young Marines units are community-based programs run by dedicated adult volunteers in over 300 communities across the United States, and overseas. Young Marine units are similar in nature to Boy/Girl Scout councils or Camp Fire chapters where the units meet once or twice a week.

The Young Marines is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 youth education and service program for boys and girls ages 8 through high school. Young Marines are organized into local units located in nearly every state in the United States.

There are over 230 Young Marines units nationwide, including international units in Okinawa, Japan.

Each Young Marines unit is a independent community-based program lead by registered adult volunteers. Many of these volunteers are former, retired, active duty, or reserve Marines who believe passionately that the values they learned as Marines had a positive affect on them. They volunteer their time and make every effort to pass positive values on to those under their charge before other destructive influences take root. New volunteers are always welcome to apply, regardless of whether or not they have a background in the Armed Forces.

While there must be at least one Marine in good standing – Former, retired, reserve or active duty who serves as the Unit Commander, volunteers are always welcome to apply, regardless of whether or not they have a background in the Armed Forces.

We do not provide lunch as a unit. Each child is responsible for packing and bringing their own healthy lunch. Reusable water bottles are a must! Some events that the unit participates in will have lunch provided but this is not standard.

We meet every two weeks on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The first year cost covers: -Fee to National -Cover (received as a Recruit) -all Guidebooks (Recruits start with the Recruit Guidebook) -Red drawstring bag (received as a Recruit) -Unit and National shirts (received at Graduation) -Young Marine Uniform (received at Graduation) -Ribbons earned throughout the program -Ribbon devices earned throughout the program -Chevrons earned throughout the program

The current cost to join the South Plains Young Marines unit is $200 for the first year and $60 per year a member re-registers in the unit. The cost is per child.

Recruits and Young Marines are responsible for bringing their own lunch and reusable water bottles and all materials (Gear). Recruit uniforms are black shorts (for the summer months), grey sweatpants (for the winter months), a white cotton shirt with their first initial and last name on the front (for both summer and winter months), grey crew neck sweatshirt (for the winter months), and comfortable running shoes. Young Marine uniforms are black shorts (for the summer months), grey sweatpants (for the winter months), unit shirt (for both summer and winter months), grey sweatshirt (for the winter months), and comfortable running shoes. Please note that full uniforms are required and will be provided once a recruit becomes a Young Marine. Information on what to wear to an event/meeting will be detailed on our members page, as well as through our communication app (GroupMe).