WE NEED YOUR HELP!  

In past years Congress authorized and appropriated funding to ensure the Young Marines program was able to provide youth leadership education, development, and drug prevention and resistance education for the next year. In Fiscal Year 2022 (October 2021-September 2022) and FY 2023 (October 2022-September 2023), the Young Marines was cut out of the budget process because of the way the budget was passed, which means that we received no federal funding to continue the mission of “strengthening the lives of America’s youth” for 2023 and 2024.  With your help, we received the restoration of our funding for FY 2025.  As budget negotiators are working now on the annual budget for FY 2026, we really need your help.  Please contact your Congressional Representatives to ask for their support in ensuring the Young Marines receive the funding for the upcoming year.

You already know that we have had to dramatically cut back on our programs the last few years due to the funding cuts. This has greatly impacted or eliminated many of the following: summer programs, National Director programs, National Leadership Schools, Adult Volunteer Training, Esprit magazine, our support for materials to the field, and so much more. This funding is critical to our full operations in the future.   

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP – 

Get the word out to everyone involved or impacted by the Young Marines program: Volunteers, Parents, Guardians, Young Marines, other local supporters, friends and family. This is where the numbers count in getting members of Congress’ attention and sharing that this program matters for our youth and the future of our country. Ask everyone you know to reach out and tell their story about how this program has helped youth members in their community or any stories about how the Young Marines program has positively impacted their community.  See below for some verbiage you can use when making contact.
           
*You can reach out to them directly via email, phone, or USPS.  Click here to use the federal government website that gives you direct contact information for your Congressional Representatives:    

Click here to search for your reps
           
*Alternatively, you can always visit your local congressional offices. You can use the same website above to find that information.  Congressional offices track all calls so the more calls, visits, letters/emails, the more they know the issue is important to their constituents. This is how we rise above the chatter.   

Please call HQYM if you have any questions or for updates.   

Thank you for your assistance with this important call to action and your support of the Young Marines program! 

Sample email/letter/phone contact verbiage:

Date

Dear Congressman/woman ---------:

The Young Marines program is an asset to our country, my community, and my family – I am [a Young Marine] [a Young Marine adult volunteer] [a parent of a Young Marine].  My name is ---------------------- (and here you can share how the Young Marines has changed your life or the lives of your children/grandchildren/friends/loved ones; give examples and/or just tell a story.  Talk about specific benefits of the program: drug demand reduction education (resistance and prevention), citizenship, veteran support in your community, leadership, teambuilding opportunities for youth in all walks of life).

One of the pillars of the Young Marines program is to lead a positive, healthy drug-free lifestyle, and to educate and encourage others to do the same. This is one of the ways we are fighting to make a difference against the epidemic of drugs in our country. We also help develop resilient young leaders that our country needs for the future.

In addition, Young Marines in your community are the leaders among youth organizations in recognizing the contributions of America’s veterans through our many veterans-related engagement programs throughout the year. Young Marines support various veterans’ organizations and learn about leadership and citizenship from these veterans firsthand.

Congressman/woman --------, your Young Marines have been recipients of awards as individuals and as a group. We have been recognized for our Drug Demand Reduction Educational efforts regionally and nationally. We are also well recognized for our community service and yearly contribution of hundreds of thousands of hours of service by the youth members of the Young Marines and the adult volunteers in the program.

Young Marine membership is proud of our service to America and service to our community and veterans.  We ask for your continued support with reinstating us into the federal budget in FY26. Now more than ever, programs like the Young Marines are needed in our country, and we need your support to continue to strengthen the lives of America’s youth.

Thank you and Semper Fidelis,