About Us

We are the River Towns Young Marines, located in Valhalla, NY 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.

Donate Now Overview

What We Do

Our goal is to empower future leaders — but perhaps even more importantly, to create conscientious, empathetic, and productive members of society.

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.

PROGRAMS

SPACES

From survival skills to aviation to rock climbing and more, the Summer Program of Adventures,… See More

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Training is what sets Young Marines apart. All recruits undergo a 26-hour orientation program… See More

COMMUNITY SERVICE

A large part of being a Young Marine is learning the value of personal sacrifice and shared responsibility…. See More

DRUG-DEMAND REDUCTION (DDR)

Our nationally recognized “Closing the Gate on Drugs” initiative educates our young members… See More

Our Mission

The core mission of the Young Marines organization is to fundamentally influence the trajectory of America’s future through the delivery of high-caliber developmental programs for both boys and girls. Our programs are meticulously designed to nurture and cultivate a robust set of values, including leadership, teamwork, and personal responsibility, among the youth. These programs not only aim to instill a profound sense of discipline and respect for themselves and others but also encourage a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through educational initiatives and active community involvement.

At the heart of our mission lies the commitment to foster a generation that is well-prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow with confidence, integrity, and a deep-rooted desire to contribute positively to their communities and the nation at large. By participating in our diverse range of activities, from community service projects to leadership training sessions and outdoor expeditions, our young members gain invaluable experiences that shape their character and broaden their perspectives.

SUPPORT US Volunteer

Youth Marine Recruit Training

Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over 3 months of 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.

Become an Adult Volunteer

Registered volunteers in the Young Marines are adults aged 18 and up who possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Every volunteer will be background-checked and verified through character references.

Do you wish to contact our unit with a question or comment please contact us

Let me tell you a little about how I got to where I am today. When growing up I was always told one rule by my Nana: “Try...

Slaghaei

March 1, 2024

Greetings To All, My son started to participate in the Young Marines about a few months now. He absolutely loves going. He looks forward to the classes and...

Linaressan

October 6, 2023

My son started in this program when he was 9 years old. He was shy and soft spoken. I was a single teen mom and his father suffered...

Mscastro06

October 6, 2023

As a member of the Young Marines as a youth for ten years and adult volunteer for the last five years, I evoke the teamwork, leadership and discipline...

CMHamper

October 3, 2023

I was in the Young Marines for almost 10 years, and it completely changed my life. I learned the values of leadership, citizenship, and how to become a...

Mariokko

October 18, 2022

Young Marines is truly a life changing program. I joined when I was 8 years old and continued on through the program for 10 years....

Macielaine17

November 5, 2020

The Young Marines program has been a part of my life since I was three. All of my siblings and myself have gone through the program. Growing up,...

Anonymous(Client 1)

November 4, 2019

The Young Marines program teaches leadership and a variety of skills that kids need for life. The real world experiences from opportunities such as...

CDish

August 2, 2019

Our son, Walter, attended the National Advanced Leadership School in Oregon this summer. He gained invaluable leadership skills, and he built lasting friendships with other Young Marines from...

MSpatton