Dakota Richter, 16 of the Northern KY unit, has been selected as Division 2 Young Marine of the Year (Division 2 encompasses KY, WV, VA, DE, MD and D.C.) Division YMOY earns scholarship money, a trip to Guam and Iwo Jima with the National Executive Director, WWII Veterans and the other 5 Division YMoYs, plus a trip to the Adult Leaders Conference in Reno (May 2013) to compete against the other 5 Division YMoYs for selection of National YM of the Year. Selection is based on their YM career, academic standing, achievements both in and out of YMs, and a “What Being Young Marine of the Year Would Mean to Me” essay. National YM of the Year earns another scholarship and the privilege of traveling to visit other YM units.
YM/SgtMaj Dakota Richter has been in the Young Marines for over 5 and a half years. She was Honor Graduate of her Boot Camp in Spring 2007, 2nd Platoon Honor Graduate at Senior Leadership School (Fort Pickett, VA) in 2010, Honor Graduate of Advanced Leadership School (Fort Pickett, VA) in 2011, selected as Sergeant Major of the National Senior and Advanced Leadership Schools (Virginia Beach VA) in 2012, and selected as KY Battalion Young Marine of the Year for 2011, 2012 and 2013. She is also the senior-ranking Young Marine & Lead Recruit Instructor for the Northern KY unit, as well as the recipient of the Distinguished Order of Merit Award.
"Young Marines of the Marine Corps League is the official Drug Demand Reduction program of the United States Marine Corps for youth ages 8 through the completion of high school. The program's core values are teamwork, leadership, discipline. There are over 13,000 Young Marines across the glove, with over 300 units in the United States. In order to become a Young Marine, "recruits" (Young Marines in training) must complete over 26 hours of nationally-mandated training, nicknamed "boot camp", and pass written, oral and physical testing."
Lynne Arnold
Adjutant, Northern KY Young Marines
513.470.0417