RESERVE — Twenty-five young people between the ages of 10 and 14 started out as strangers, but came together this month as Young Marines.

The St. John Parish Young Marines Graduation took place April 12 and produced the largest graduating class since the program began locally in 2010.

The newest Young Marines, dubbed ECHO Platoon, received graduation certificates and awards at the ceremony held at the Regala Gym in Reserve.

Unit Commander Brian Bertrand said the St. John Parish Young Marines program is a non-profit youth organization that provides its members with valuable training in leadership, discipline and teamwork.

The graduation takes place after members complete 26 hours of classroom training and learning, as well as passing a physical fitness test. Classroom work is offered every other Saturday.

Young Marine Private Harmoney Jacob of ECHO Platoon said she has made a lot of friends in the program.

“I am proud to say that I am a Young Marine, and once a Young Marine always a Young Marine, no matter who came before me or who will come after me,” Jacob said.

“I have learned a lot and hope to stay there for a long time and help the next recruits graduate proud like I did.”

After graduation, members can continue serving as Young Marines until they graduate high school.

Bertrand said organizers separate all applications into groups, divided from different schools, backgrounds and races before carefully choosing candidates, one from each stack.

“The idea behind this is to pick an equal amount of students from each category that have never met before,” Bertrand said. “We want to make it where no one in the room knows each other. The reason behind this is to teach them to learn to rely on each other as one team.

“When I first went off to boot camp in the year of 1993, I did not know anyone at first, not one single soul. I got to know them. At the end, we learned to rely on each other and work together as a team. This is what we want to teach our Young Marines; to rely on each other for support.”

Bertrand said Young Marines learn honor, courage, commitment; which are the core values of a marine.

Brian Bertrand and wife Denise took the lead in the Young Marines program in 2010. Denise serves as executive officer.

“We are shooting for 40 members for our next class, and appreciate continued local support,” Denise said.

Bertrand said Young Marines offer something positive for youth.

Young Marines are actively involved in the community and have been honored by Parish President Natalie Robottom, where she commended them for their service.

They host an annual Veterans Day parade and bring blankets, baskets and gifts at Christmas to show appreciation to veterans.

They also participate in many community activities and fundraisers throughout the year, Bertrand said.

“There is not a lot right now in St. John the Baptist Parish, and we wanted to offer something to those who wanted to be a part of something,” Bertrand said.

Young Marines is a youth education and service program offered to boys and girls, who can apply when they turn 8.

The focus is to promote mental, moral and physical development, along with character building, leadership while promoting a gang- and drug-free lifestyle.

It is the official youth program of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Those interested can log onto stjohnyoungmarines.com.

— By Gladys Davis Mulkey