Southwest Florida Young Marines

06/21/2026

06/21/2026

🇺🇸 Another Outstanding Drill Day for the Southwest Florida Young Marines! 🇺🇸

We had a very long and busy day packed with training and accomplishments! Our Young Marines started the day with physical training, followed by uniform inspections, Drug Demand Reduction (DDR), drill, and studying performance objectives as they continue to grow in knowledge and leadership.

At the same time, we were excited to welcome prospective Young Marines and their families during our New Parent & Family Orientation. It was a pleasure sharing our program and introducing them to the opportunities and experiences the Young Marines has to offer.

The highlight of the day was recognizing the hard work and dedication of our Young Marines. Every Young Marine received either a promotion or an award, a testament to their commitment, perseverance, and continued growth within the program. We could not be more proud of their accomplishments!

Congratulations to all of our Young Marines on their well-earned achievements, and welcome to the newest families joining our Young Marine family. The future is bright, and we're excited for the adventures ahead!

06/19/2026

This past week, LCpl Johnson and LCpl Ngabiriano represented the Southwest Florida Young Marines at the Division 2 Junior Leadership Schools in Florida, where Young Marines from across the region gathered to develop the skills necessary to become stronger leaders within their units and communities.

Leadership Schools focus on teamwork, communication, problem-solving, confidence, responsibility, and servant leadership through hands-on challenges and real-world experiences. These schools are designed to challenge Young Marines to step outside their comfort zones and prepare them for increased leadership responsibilities.

We are especially proud to announce that the 🏆 Junior Leadership School Honor Graduate was our very own YM/LCpl Armonnie Harewood-Johnson

This outstanding achievement reflects LCpl Johnson's dedication, hard work, leadership potential, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations on earning this well-deserved recognition!

Junior Leadership School serves as a foundational step in developing future Young Marine leaders by emphasizing self-discipline, teamwork, communication, and personal responsibility.

Tomorrow, both LCpl Johnson and LCpl Ngabiriano will be present in the unit for their first drill since graduating from Leadership School. We are excited to see them put their new knowledge and skills into action and share their experiences, growth, and transformation with their fellow Young Marines.

Congratulations to both of these outstanding Young Marines for representing our unit with professionalism and pride. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on our program as they continue their leadership journey.

06/13/2026

🇺🇸 Support Our Young Marines! 🇺🇸

The Southwest Florida Young Marines are raising funds to support summer activities, training opportunities, and uniforms for our newest Young Marines!

You can find us today and tomorrow at the Fort Myers Gun Show, where our Young Marines will be working hard to raise money that will directly benefit the youth in our program. Every dollar helps provide opportunities for leadership development, community service, outdoor activities, Drug Demand Reduction education, and ensuring our newest members have the uniforms they need to succeed.

Our Young Marines are dedicated to becoming responsible citizens and leaders in their communities, and your support helps make that possible.

If you're attending the Fort Myers Gun Show, stop by and say hello! If you would like to support our mission but cannot attend, donations can be made here:

🔗https://givebutter.com/SWFLYoungMarinesFundraiser

Thank you for supporting the next generation of leaders and helping us continue to provide life-changing opportunities for our Young Marines.

🇺🇸💪

06/08/2026

🎓 Congratulations, PVT Malik! 🇺🇸

This weekend, our Unit Commander had the honor of attending PVT Malik's high school graduation party to celebrate a truly outstanding achievement.

Not only did Malik graduate from high school, but he accomplished something even more impressive, he graduated an entire year early!

This achievement reflects the dedication, discipline, hard work, and determination that we have come to expect from him as a Young Marine. Graduating ahead of schedule is no small accomplishment, and it is a testament to his commitment to setting goals and working hard to achieve them.

We are incredibly proud of PVT Malik and look forward to seeing all the great things he will accomplish in the future.

Please join us in congratulating PVT Malik on this remarkable milestone!

Well done, Malik — your Young Marine family is proud of you! 🎓

06/01/2026

Day 3 marked the conclusion of an incredible first unit encampment, and our Young Marines finished strong!

The morning was dedicated to breaking down camp, policing the area, and ensuring that all tents, gear, and equipment were properly packed and accounted for. The Young Marines demonstrated responsibility, teamwork, and attention to detail as they worked together to leave the campsite better than they found it.

Of course, no encampment would be complete without a visit from the legendary "Camp Tooth Fairy!" 😄

As the weekend came to a close, the campsite was packed up, lessons were learned, friendships were strengthened, and memories were made. From setting up camp and hiking, to first aid, CPR, land navigation, swimming qualifications, drill, physical fitness, and teamwork, our Young Marines successfully completed an unforgettable first encampment experience.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend a success, including our staff, Adult Volunteers, Mid-Florida Eagles, Young Marines, and all of the parents who support our program.

Our Young Marines left tired, a little dirty, full of stories, and already looking forward to the next adventure.

Semper Fidelis! 🇺🇸💪🏕️

06/01/2026

During day 2 our Young Marines were led by USMC Reserve Sergeant Roman, alongside both Unit Commanders, our Training Officer, Medical Officer, and Adult Volunteers, through a challenging 3-mile hike. Along the route, the Young Marines participated in hands-on training stations covering basic first aid, rapid response, CPR, and land navigation, building skills that could one day help them assist others in an emergency.

The day continued with swimming qualifications, where our Young Marines demonstrated confidence, determination, and perseverance in the water.

For lunch, the Young Marines enjoyed MREs courtesy of our local Cape Coral Marine Corps Recruiting Station, giving many of them a chance to experience a meal commonly used by our nation's military service members.

The afternoon was filled with drill instruction, physical fitness training, and terrain model classes, where the Young Marines learned valuable leadership and field skills while continuing to challenge themselves both mentally and physically.

To wrap up an outstanding day of training, everyone enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers while spending time together and building friendships that will last long after the encampment is over.

A special thank you to Sergeant Roman, our staff, Adult Volunteers, and everyone who helped make Day 2 a tremendous success. The dedication, motivation, and teamwork displayed by our Young Marines throughout the day made us incredibly proud.

Semper Fidelis! 🇺🇸🏕️💪

06/01/2026

🏕️ Encampment Weekend 🇺🇸

Day 1 of our first unit encampment was a great success!

Our Young Marines and recruits arrived ready to work and immediately got to setting up their tents and camping equipment. For many, this was a new experience, but they rose to the challenge with teamwork, determination, and positive attitudes. Throughout the evening, they learned valuable field skills while working together to establish our campsite and prepare for the weekend ahead.

Encampment is about much more than camping. It is an opportunity for our Young Marines to develop leadership, self-confidence, responsibility, and teamwork while learning skills that will serve them well both inside and outside the program.

We were also excited to share this experience with our brothers and sisters from the Mid-Florida Eagles, Young Marines. The friendships, lessons, and memories being made throughout the weekend are sure to last a lifetime.

05/28/2026

Our Young Marines are getting ready for our very first unit encampment!!!!! 🏕️🇺🇸

This weekend, our Young Marines will be spending the weekend camping, learning field skills, teamwork, leadership, and a little bit of “surviving in the wild”! This will be an exciting first adventure for many of our Young Marines and recruits, and we are looking forward to an unforgettable weekend of learning, growth, and camaraderie.

We are also excited to welcome our brothers and sisters from the Mid-Florida Eagles, Young Marines , who will be joining us for this encampment adventure!

A very special thank you to Ariel Montero, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Paul E. Ison-Det. #60 Lee County, Florida , for his generous donation of $100 to help our Young Marines snack fund for the weekend. Your continued support of our youth and program is greatly appreciated!

We would also like to thank our local Cape Coral Marine Corps Recruiting Station for providing MREs for lunch on Saturday. Our Young Marines are excited for the experience!

If you would like to help support our Young Marines and contribute to our snack fund for the weekend, please donate here: https://givebutter.com/SWFLYoungMarinesFundraiser

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Young Marines and help create these incredible opportunities for them.