Historic Elkridge Young Marines

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United States
Halethorpe, MD
Historic Elkridge Young Marines

We are a national non-profit 501c(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls 8 and up.

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.

08/05/2026

We are proud to recognize YM Sgt. Farias and YM Sgt. Smith, Jahzara for their achievements at the Young Marines Division 3 Senior Leadership School (SLS).

Throughout SLS, both Young Marines represented the Historic Elkridge Young Marines with dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.

YM Sgt. Smith, Jahzara earned the Molly Marine Award for achieving the highest PFT score, an impressive accomplishment that reflects her physical fitness, determination, and hard work throughout the program. Congratulations, YM Smith, on this well-earned recognition!

A very special congratulations goes to YM Sgt. Farias, who earned the distinguished recognition of SLS Honor Graduate. This honor recognizes her exceptional overall performance, leadership, dedication, and commitment throughout Senior Leadership School. We are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement and the example she continues to set for her fellow Young Marines.

Congratulations to YM Sgt. Farias and YM Sgt. Smith, Jahzara on representing the Historic Elkridge Young Marines with pride and excellence. We look forward to seeing them bring the leadership skills and experiences gained at SLS back to our unit and continue to grow as Young Marine leaders.

Thank you to Division 3 Young Marines AV's and Cadre for making this incredible opportunity possible and for supporting our Young Marines as they continue to grow as leaders.

Division 1 Young Marines
*Photos by Division 3 Young Marines and HEYM Parents.

07/28/2026

Congratulations to four exceptional Young Marines who were recognized during our promotion ceremony last Wednesday!

Promotions in the Young Marines Program are earned through dedication, leadership, personal growth, and a steadfast commitment to the program's values and standards. We are proud to recognize these Young Marines for reaching this important milestone.

Each of these Young Marines has demonstrated determination, resilience, and a strong commitment to their unit. Their advancement reflects the time and effort they have invested in strengthening their leadership abilities, supporting their fellow Young Marines, and striving for excellence in all they do.

Please join us in congratulating the following Young Marines on their well-deserved promotions:

- Young Marine Tyler – Promoted to YM PFC
- Young Marine Farias – Promoted to YM Sgt
- Young Marine Lipsey – Promoted to YM Sgt
- Young Marine Smith – Promoted to YM Sgt

Congratulations, Young Marines! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and look forward to watching you continue to grow as leaders and role models within our unit. Keep up the outstanding work, and as always, Semper Fidelis, Young Marines!

Young Marines Division 1 Young Marines

07/15/2026

On Wednesday evening, the Historic Elkridge Young Marines family gathered to celebrate the retirement of YM SSgt Benka-Coker, Shereen after years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to our unit. Surrounded by fellow Young Marines, alumni, family, and friends, the ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to a young leader who has left a lasting impact on those around her. Through her example, mentorship, and unwavering dedication, YM SSgt Benka-Coker has helped shape the next generation of Young Marines, inspiring others to strive for excellence both in and out of uniform.

We extend our deepest gratitude to YM SSgt Benka-Coker for her outstanding leadership, the countless hours she devoted to serving our unit, and for her heartfelt and inspirational retirement speech to our Young Marines. Her words encouraged our youth to embrace challenges, lead with integrity, and make the most of every opportunity the program provides. We know her message will continue to inspire our Young Marines for years to come.

We also thank the families, friends, and supporters who joined us to make the evening so special. A special thank you goes to Mrs. Tarsha (UC), Mr. LG (XO), and our guest Young Marine alumni speaker, Mr. Colin Farias, whose heartfelt words and reflections made the ceremony even more meaningful. Their messages reminded us of the lasting impact that service, leadership, and mentorship have on the lives of our Young Marines.

The evening was filled with pride, laughter, and a few tears as we reflected on YM SSgt Benka-Coker's journey and celebrated all she has accomplished. While we will certainly miss seeing her in uniform, we know the leadership, discipline, and values she developed through the Young Marines will continue to guide her in every future endeavor. Congratulations on your retirement, and all of our best wishes to you as you begin this exciting new chapter.

Division 1 Young Marines

07/01/2026

Recently, our unit had the opportunity to welcome Sgt. Boul of Sgt Boul's Emergency Services, LLC to provide a CPR & First Aid class for our Young Marines.

During this hands-on training, participants learned valuable life-saving skills including emergency response basics, CPR techniques, and first aid knowledge that can help them respond with confidence in real-world situations. These skills not only support personal preparedness but also reinforce the leadership, responsibility, and service values that are central to the Young Marines program.

This training also brought together members of the broader Young Marines community, and we were excited to welcome several Young Marines from Anne Arundel Young Marines, Hamilton Young Marines, and additional guests who joined us for the class. It was a great opportunity to connect across units, learn together, and build camaraderie while gaining important skills.

For many of our Young Marines, this class also provided an opportunity to work toward advancement requirements and gain certifications that support future leadership goals within the program.

We are incredibly grateful to Sgt. Boul for sharing his time, knowledge, and experience with our unit and for helping equip our Young Marines with skills that can make a meaningful difference in their communities.

Thank you again to Sgt. Boul's Emergency Services, LLC, as well as everyone who attended and helped make this training a success. Together, we continue preparing young leaders to serve with confidence and readiness

Learn more: www.sgtboul.com

06/30/2026

The Historic Elkridge Young Marines proudly congratulates YM Benka-Coker, Shereen on her recent promotion to the rank of Young Marine Staff Sergeant!

This promotion is a testament to her hard work, dedication, leadership, and commitment to the Young Marines program. Advancing to the rank of YM SSgt reflects not only her consistent effort in meeting program requirements but also her willingness to lead by example, mentor younger Young Marines, and uphold the core values of leadership, teamwork, and discipline.

YM SSgt Benka-Coker has continually demonstrated the character, professionalism, and perseverance expected of a Young Marine leader. Her accomplishments are a direct result of the time and effort she has invested in developing herself and serving others.

Please join us in congratulating YM SSgt Benka-Coker on this well-earned achievement. We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished and look forward to watching her continue to grow as a leader within our unit. Congratulations, YM SSgt Benka-Coker! Semper Fidelis!

06/17/2026

This past weekend, our young Marines, headed to Hershey Park for an annual spring unit encampment.

The weekend was filled with fun, teamwork, laughter, and memories made together. In between enjoying the park and spending time with friends, our young Marines also worked on guidebook sign offs, and continued making progress toward their advancement goals.

Experiences like these help, build, confidence, strength, and friendships, and remind us that learning and leadership can happen anywhere.

Thank you to our adult volunteers and families who help make this weekend possible!

06/04/2026

Our Young Marines were grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand and serve at last month’s Post Spaghetti Dinner and Unit Bake Sale. Events like these provide meaningful opportunities to give back, support our veterans, and strengthen connections within our community.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who purchased baked goods and supported our fundraiser. Your generosity directly helps support our Young Marines and the programs and opportunities that continue to shape and develop our youth.

A special thank you to American Legion Dewey Lowman Post 109 for their continued support of our unit and for inviting our Young Marines to serve and be part of these community events. We truly appreciate your partnership and your commitment to creating opportunities for our youth to learn the value of service.

Thank you again to everyone who supported and helped make this event a success

06/03/2026

Thank you to Dewey Lowman Post 109 for inviting our Young Marines to be part of such a special evening and for providing them with the opportunity to volunteer and serve at the recent Honor Flights Dinner.

It was an honor for our Young Marines to support this meaningful event and have the opportunity to serve alongside and support our veterans during such an important occasion. Experiences like these provide valuable opportunities for youth to engage in community service while honoring those who have served our country.

We sincerely appreciate Dewey Lowman Post 109 for their continued support of our unit and for creating opportunities that allow our Young Marines to learn, serve, and give back to the community.

Thank you again for your partnership and for helping make the evening a success.
Semper Fidelis!

05/18/2026

Last Wednesday, we proudly celebrated the Recruit Graduation of Recruit Burdick and Recruit Krone as they reached an important milestone in their Young Marines journey. Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout recruit training were on full display as they officially completed this achievement.

A special congratulations goes to Recruit Krone, who earned the Iron Mike Award for achieving the highest Physical Fitness Test (PFT) score among the graduating recruits. This award recognizes outstanding physical fitness and determination, and we are proud of Cooper’s accomplishment.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to our own YM Sgt Benka-Coker, Shereen for serving as our guest speaker and delivering an inspirational message to our Young Marines and graduating recruits. His words of encouragement and leadership helped make the evening even more meaningful.

A heartfelt thank you also goes out to our Recruit's families for supporting and encouraging them throughout their journey. Your commitment and support play an important role in their success. We would also like to thank everyone who brought food and helped us celebrate this special occasion together. Your generosity and support helped make the evening memorable for all.

Congratulations again to YM PVT Burdick and YM PVT Krone on this well-earned accomplishment. We look forward to watching your continued growth and success within the Young Marines program! Semper Fidelis!

Division 1 Young Marines

05/13/2026

Promotion Alert🚨

Please join us in congratulating Young Marine Selwyn Benka-Coker on his well-earned promotion last month to the rank of YM Corporal (YM CPL)!

Earning the rank of YM Corporal is a significant milestone. As a YM CPL, Selwyn now takes on increased responsibility to lead by example and uphold the standards and values of our unit.

We are proud of Selwyn’s accomplishments and look forward to seeing his continued growth as a leader within our program. Congratulations, YM CPL Benka-Coker!

Division 1 Young Marines

Address

1610 Sulphur Spring Road
Halethorpe, MD
21227

Telephone

(202) 596-2086

Website

https://members.youngmarines.com/unit/historicelkridge/contactus

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