MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- GLOCK, incorporated donated $50,000 to the Young Marines at the Iwo Jima memorial outside the main gate, Sept. 28.
National Executive Director of the Young Marines Ret. Lt. Col. Mike Kessler and Young Marine Sgt. Maj. Casey Scott, 16, and national Young Marine of the year, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization.
“It’s a good feeling to know that people are supporting us in this endeavour and helping develop the youth of America,” Scott said.
The mission of the Young Marines is to positively impact America's future by providing quality youth development programs for boys and girls that nurtures and develops its members into responsible citizens who enjoy, and promote, a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, according to their website.
“We use the $50,000 that GLOCK donates every year for our leadership academies and helping get our Young Marines there,” Scott said.
Over the past five years, GLOCK, a leading global manufacturer of pistols and accessories, has donated $250,000 to the Young Marines.
“You have to have leaders coming from the cradle to the grave,” said Josh Dorsey, vice president of GLOCK and a Marine veteran. “It’s important for the future of all of us to make sure we have people with that type of character to preserve our way of life and quality of life”
The Young Marines is not a recruiting force for the Marine Corps, although they support the core values of honor, courage, and commitment, according to their website.
“You have to have the core values that the Marine Corps perpetuates and the Young Marines tries to instill them in young men and women across the United States,” Dorsey said. “We continue to support those organizations that are important to the growth of our nation.”
GLOCK has helped the Young Marines, which currently boasts more than 12,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers, increase their capabilities around the world.
“GLOCK has been a real savior and team player,” said Michael Kessler, Young Marines national executive director.
R. Lee Ermey participated in the donation ceremony and played a key role in the relationship between the Young Marines and GLOCK.
“Gunny Ermey was a guest speaker at one of our national functions,“ Kessler said. “I suggested that he would be a really good spokesman for the Young Marines. Subsequent to that he had become the spokesman for GLOCK and that brought the two together.”
For more information on the Young Marines, visit www.YoungMarines.com.