We are the Kansas Santa Fe Trail Young Marines, located in Overland Park, KS and are proud to be a part of our nation’s premiere, award-winning program for boys and girls between the ages of eight and eighteen. 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. The Young Marines is the premier youth organization in its Drug Demand Reduction efforts.
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through the 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 handful of boys, the organization has grown respectively with units throughout the country and overseas.
Upon joining a local Young Marine unit, youth undergo a 26-hour orientation program, generally spread out over several weekly meetings. This orientation is called Recruit Training. The youth learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies, close order drill, physical fitness, and military rank structure. After graduating from Young Marine Recruit Training, the youth have the opportunity to learn even more new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Young Marines earn ribbons for achievement in areas such as leadership, community service, swimming, academic excellence, first aid and drug resistance education.
Our Young Marines Unit was Chartered in September of 2024. We are currently recruiting new applicants for our Young Marines Unit. Please review the application information or contact the Unit Commander, Al Sanchez at: 913.306.3715, email to: KansasSantaFeTrail@YoungMarines.org.
We are currently sponsored by The Marine Corps League, The General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025, 9550 Pflumm Rd in Lenexa, KS.
Our Young Marines Unit will drill at our meeting location at The American Legion Post #370 at 7500 W. 75th, St. Overland Park, KS., on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 10am-noon and the fourth Monday of the Month from 5pm-7pm.
Young Marine Recruiting Event: Please join us on February 8th, 2025, from 10am - Noon, at the American Legion Post #370, 7500 W. 75th St in Overland Park, KS, where our Unit Leadership team of Adult Volunteers will answer your questions and signup new Young Marine members.
Our Adult Volunteers:
We greatly appreciate the support of the Marine Corps League Detachment 1025 and the American Legion Post #370 and all its members for their continued encouragement and financial support. Other community organizations and individuals also provide encouragement and financial support to assist in the funding of our unit.
Please also consider joining our current Adult Volunteers to help with the mentorship of our Young Marines. Please contact the Unit Commander Al Sanchez for the details to become an Adult Volunteer and the requirements for the background investigation and training completion.
"The Kansas Santa Fe Trail Young Marines Unit honors the life of Lance Corporal Gabriel Puchalla, USMC."
