Oceanside CA— The Young Marines, a national youth organization, named its Division 6 Young Marine of the Year – YM/SgtMaj Luke Smith, 17, of Oceanside, California. He is a member of the North San Diego Young Marines which meets in Vista, California. Smith is a junior at Guajome Park Academy in Vista.
Smith is the top Young Marine in Division 6 which includes six states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, and Arizona. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model.
“Being selected as the Division 6 Young Marine of the Year is an honor,” he said. “It gives me the opportunity to mentor and guide leaders from across the division. I look forward to an amazing year.”
Smith joined the Young Marines at age eight and is in his ninth year in the program.
“My older siblings had gone through the program, and my dad was in the Marine Corps,” he said. “I was looking for a way to be like them.”
As part of the Young Marines, Smith has received a personal commendation and the Commendation of Merit. In addition, he has logged more than 2,500 hours of community service. Outside of the Young Marines, he enjoys working in the garden and riding his dirt bike.
Upon graduation of high school, he plans to enlist in the Marine Corps to work in Air Traffic Control. He’d like to be commissioned as an officer.
As Division 6 Young Marine of the Year, Smith will escort WWII veterans to the annual Reunion of Honor trip to Guam and Iwo Jima next March. The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima. This truly is a once in a lifetime trip as the island of Iwo Jima is only open one day each year for this special reunion.
“Luke Smith is an extraordinary Young Marine,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “All our division winners show great qualities of leadership as well as reverence to veterans. Each lives a healthy, drug-free lifestyle which is a foundation of the Young Marines.”
Smith is the son of Cal Grimes and Marie Smith. Grimes is the unit commander, and Marie Smith is the adjutant. He has an older sister and two older brothers. His sister and one brother were in the Camp Pendleton Young Marines.
“The Young Marines has given me the opportunity to make a positive impact in my community by helping those in need and helping develop the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve been able to make personal connections that will last a lifetime.”
How it works
The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Division Young Marine of the Year must meet vigorous requirements such as graduating from Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, maintaining high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.
Smith will represent his division in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year which will be announced at the Adult Leaders’ Conference in May 2020.
About the Young Marines
The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Since the Young Marines’ humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 8,000 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.
For more information, visit the website at: https://www.YoungMarines.com.