The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines is the focal point for the U.S. Marine Corps' Youth Drug Demand Reduction efforts.
The Golden Gate Young Marines is currently the only Young Marine Unit in the San Francisco Bay area and accepts membership from young men and women from all counties therein.
​
The Golden Gate Young Marines can accept only a limited number of recruits for our one basic training session to be conducted every summer. Young men and women who wish to become Golden Gate Young Marines must apply and be screened into the program. The screening includes a physical fitness test and personal interview by Young Marine Adult Staff of the Young Marine and parents or guardians, to ascertain if they will benefit from our program.
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings, in 1959, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 281 units with 9,600 youth and 2,400 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Okinawa with affiliates in a host of other countries.
The mission of the Young Marines is to positively impact America's future by providing quality youth development programs for boys and girls that nurtures and develops its members into responsible citizens who enjoy and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
The Young Marines differ from other youth groups (such as the Boy/Girl Scouts, YMCA, Boys/Girls Clubs) in many ways. Our program begins with a challenging recruit training session. This "Boot Camp" is a rigorous, demanding, intense educational process that stresses classroom instruction, close order drill, physical fitness, discipline and military courtesy. It is designed to challenge and motivate the Young Marine Recruit. Your child will be required to meet physical, mental and moral standards to graduate and go on to become a member of the Golden Gate Young Marines. Some recruits fail to develop the necessary skills and attitude necessary to successfully graduate to become Young Marines. These young people are discharged from the program. If your Young Marine is discharged from the program during recruit training, fees paid to the Golden Gate Young Marines will generally be returned to the parents on a prorated basis.
The individual characteristic that has the greatest impact on success or failure in this endeavor is not absolute intelligence or physical prowess. It is the desire to become a Young Marine.
Another way we differ from other youth programs is: "We mean what we say." Respect and courtesy for their peers and adults, and obedience to instructions and orders, are cornerstones of the Young Marine experience.
​
​
​
Who We Are
Mission
The mission of the Young Marines is to positively impact America's future by providing quality youth development programs for boys and girls that nurtures and develops its members into responsible citizens who enjoy and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
How are we different?
History of the Young Marines Program
​
Our unit, the Golden Gate Young Marines, originally began on the 10th of November, 2001. After moving to our current location in Hayward, our unit re-chartered on the 18th of December, 2013.
​
We are proud of all our youth and continue to strive for excellence!
​
​