On March 24, 2018, Lewis & Clark Young Marines graduated 35 recruits who have now earned the right to be called Young Marines. The graduation ceremony was led by Unit Commander, Devin Lewis, and was held in the Ball Room at the Elks BPOE #823 with over 300 guests attending, including representatives from the Marine Corps League, Columbia River Detachment #826.
Their journey began on January 13, 2018, when 40 recruits piled off the bus and stood on the yellow footprints to begin their first day of recruit training. For the next 3 1/2 months they studied and trained and were tested and inspected. In the end, 35 committed recruits succeeding in completing the program and graduating to join the ranks of the Young Marines.
Our graduates are: YM/Pvt Gunderson, YM/PFC Imel, YM/Pvt Ruptash, YM/PFC Morrow, YM/Pvt Brambila, YM/Pvt Charlan, YM/Pvt Jorgenson, YM/Pvt Maurstad, YM/Pvt Lindsay, YM/Pvt Huntamer, YM/Pvt Veal, YM/Pvt Anderson, YM/Pvt West, YM/Pvt Chapa, YM/Pvt Rinck, YM/Pvt Jensen, YM/Pvt McCumber, YM/Pvt Bennett, YM/Pvt Cendena, YM/Pvt Cavazos, YM/Pvt Combs, YM/Pvt Chan, YM/PFC Chan, YM/Pvt Eades, YM/Pvt Talley, YM/Pvt West, YM/Pvt Hurd, YM/PFC Charlan, YM/Pvt Talley, YM/Pvt Arambula, YM/Pvt Flanagan, YM/Pvt Boyd, YM/Pvt Prudhomme, YM/Pvt Sadlier, YM/Pvt Sibert
They were trained by dedicated and skilled Recruit Instructors, led my YM/MGySgt Emma Langley and adult staff Mr. Patrick Vernier, Ms. Kate Nelson, Mr. Wayne “Doc” Kurtz.
Recruit Instructors
YM/MGySgt Emma Langley
YM/SSgt Hunter Mallicoat
YM/Sgt Sean Murray
Assistant Recruit Instructors
YM/Sgt Corbett Langley
YM/Cpl Rachel Murray
YM/Cpl Chantelle Chapa
Adult Recruit Instructors
Mr. Patrick Vernier
Ms. Kate Nelson
Mr. Wayne “Doc” Kurtz
All but four recruits graduated as Private (Pvt). Four recruits who excelled in all aspects of their training and testing were meritoriously promoted to Private First Class (PFC).
Those graduates are:
YM/PFC Miguel Charlan – age 14 from Vancouver, WA
YM/PFC Khailan Chan – age 10 from Camas, WA
YM/PFC Aiden Imel – age 13 from Washougal, WA
YM/PFC Annika Morrow – age 11 from Vancouver, WA
Of these four exceptional graduates, only one can be named Honor Graduate for Recruit Class 32418. The Honor Graduate award is awarded to a Young Marine Recruit who has displayed exceptional leadership qualities, attended all scheduled drills during the recruit-training period, been signed off on all required Performance and Enabling Objectives for Young Marine recruit training, and passed the Young Marines Physical Fitness Test (PFT). The Honor Graduate for Recruit class 32418 is YM/PFC Aiden Imel.
After the ceremony, proud families, Young Marines and staff celebrated with cake and refreshments. Congratulations to our graduates and their families.