Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Class 37 graduated 22 boys and girls Tuesday night at the Bossier Sheriff’s Office Viking Drive Substation in Bossier City.
They have been training over the past two weeks to earn the title of Young Marine, and the graduation ceremony was the culmination of a lot of hard work.
Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington oversees the youth program that teaches leadership skills, physical training, teamwork, discipline and confidence-building skills. The program also instills the Marine Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment, and promotes a healthy drug-free lifestyle.
“The teamwork and discipline they learned in the program will help them develop into the future leaders of tomorrow,” said Sheriff Whittington. “They are setting the foundation to become problems-solvers and team builders, and these are traits that will carry them well in life.”
Chief Deputy Duane Huddleston of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office encouraged the young boys and girls to continue developing leadership skills and traits.
Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Green, Jr., Commander of the 343rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Operations Group, 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, was the guest speaker. He showed the Young Marines a model of the B-52, and he said it’s his job to lead a team of five people when flying the aircraft. He emphasized the importance of teamwork to get the aircraft airborne and how teamwork will be crucial for them as they move forward in life.
Deputy Lex Webb of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office is the Commander of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office Young Marines, and as a former U.S. Marine, he feels right at home with the Young Marines program.
“These kids have stolen my heart!” Dep. Webb said. “It is going to be an amazing adventure and honor watching them grow and mature into fine young ladies and gentleman over the years. Semper Fidelis!”
The recruits ranged in age from 8 to 15 years old, with the average of only 11 years of age. The honor graduate was Bailey Moore, 13; she was also meritoriously promoted to private first class. The Iron Mike Marine Award was presented to Javarion Townsend, 11, for being the boy with the most military bearing during the training, and the Molly Marine Award was presented to Ruhamah Njua, 11, for being the most motivated female. Elijah Gee, 15, received the Motivation Award.
Former Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Moore, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment #875, presented the Floyd L. Baxter Leadership Award to Kristopher French, 14; he was also meritoriously promoted to private first class.
Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Class 37 graduates are: Abby Barbo, Leland Barnett, Justin Bell, John Boggs, J.C. Braden, Alex Evans, Jalen Francis, Kristopher French, Elijah Gee, Tristan Gill, Alexia Jackson, Nehemiah Latson, Alexa Mejia, Bailey Moore, Peter Njua, Ruhamah Njua, Shekniah Njua, Jayson Presley, Amanda Richey, Kaden Sutton, Javarion Townsend, and Caleb Walker.
The Young Marines program is a national program founded in 1958 and is the official youth program of the United States Marine Corps. More than 1,250 young men and women have graduated from the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program since its inception here in 2002.
Young Marines staff members who also trained the boys and girls were Deputies Marissa Townsend and Clay Christian. Young Marines volunteers who helped during the training and ceremony, to include performing color guard, were Sgt. Meredith Pinkston, 15; and Cpl. Destiny Buckner, 12.
To find out more about the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines program, call 965-3500, go online at www.bossiersheriff.com or visit the Viking Drive Substation at 2510 Viking Drive in Bossier City.
You can see a gallery below (Stills by Dep. Rod White/Bossier Sheriff’s Office):
Former Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert Moore, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment #875, presented the Floyd L. Baxter Leadership Award to Kristopher French, 14; he was also meritoriously promoted to private first class. 
Commander Lex Webb meritoriously promotes Kristopher French, 14, to private first class. 
Commander Lex Webb presents the Iron Mike Marine Award to Javarion Townsend, 11, for being the boy with the most military bearing during the training. 
Commander Lex Webb presents the Honor Graduate Award to Bailey Moore, 13. 
Commander Lex Webb presents Molly Marine Award to Ruhamah Njua, 11, for being the most motivated female. 
Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Class 37. 
Commander Lex Webb meritoriously promotes Bailey Moore, 13, to private first class. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Green, Jr., Commander of the 343rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Operations Group, 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, was the guest speaker. He showed the Young Marines a model of the B-52, and he said it’s his job to lead a team of five people when flying the aircraft. He emphasized the importance of teamwork to get the aircraft airborne and how teamwork will be crucial for them as they move forward in life. 
Chief Deputy Duane Huddleston of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office encouraged the young boys and girls to continue developing leadership skills and traits. “That’s a long way up there, sir!” – Young Marine Tristan Gill, 9. 
Young Marines volunteers who helped during the training and ceremony, to include performing color guard, were Sgt. Meredith Pinkston, 15; and Cpl. Destiny Buckner, 12. 
