Young Marine Courtesy

Young Marines Live By Higher Standards

Expectations of a Young Marine Leader

1. You always represent the Young Marine program whether you are on your own time or with the unit. Therefore you should act and look as if people are judging you as a Young Marine, because they are. If you are in a situation that goes against what the Young Marines stand for…be strong enough to stand up for what is right.
2. Your main priority is in taking care of your troops. Their safety and progress within the program is your main concern. You must make sure they are motivated and prepared. People do not judge a leader only by what he or she does and says, they judge by looking at the subordinates, those below them. There is truth to the saying that if "you take care of your troops, they will take care of you."
3. Make the Young Marine program important in your life. You cannot be a good leader part time. A good leader not only knows the Leadership Principles and Traits, he or she lives by them. Study those traits and principles, do they describe you?
4. You must show support for your leaders and the decisions of those that outrank you. There will be times when you may not agree with a decision that has been made, but it is your job as a leader to support it with enthusiasm to your troops. You must never "bad-mouth" a Senior Young Marine, Staff member, or the program.
5. Ask questions. If you do not know how to do something, ask your senior. Show an interest in learning. As you gain knowledge you will become more confident and be more respected.
6. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. A good leader leads from the front, will not make others do something just because he or she doesn't want to. If you're not selling car wash tickets, how can you expect your troops to do it? If you're goofing off, how can you expect them to work hard?
7. Leadership carries a lot of responsibility, to take care of your junior Young Marines, to always look your best; to always do your best, to entice or encourage others to be at their best. But it also carries rewards to those who are willing to work hard and who also put others' welfare in front of their own. To see someone succeed knowing that you helped him or her is a special reward.

Leadership is not easy, if it was anyone could do it. There will be times when a leader has to make an unpopular or difficult decision, because he or she knows it's the right thing to do. But people depend on the leader to do what's right, not what's easy.

Young Marine Courtesy

Courtesy is important and to be displayed in both speech and attitude to your family, your teachers and to your friends. In the Young Marines, it is even more important. Since we have such high respect for the members of our own organization and the military services of our country, courtesy is more carefully observed than in civilian life.

Civilian Courtesy

Practice these roles at home, in school, with friends and relatives.

• You should always address your father and older males as "Sir." Your mother and older females should always be addressed as "Ma'am" or "Mrs."
• You should always say "Thank you" or "Excuse me," as appropriate along with the civilian form of address, i.e., "Thank you, Sir" or "Excuse me, Ma'am."
• When sitting in a room and older persons enter, you should stand and offer them your seat - if there are no other seats available, or assist them in finding appropriate seating.
• You should not sit down until all older persons have sat down.
• When your mother or other ladies are preparing to sit down at a table, you should hold their chair and help them get seated.
• When a line is formed for refreshments, make it a habit to allow older persons to pass to the front of the line. Do not grab food. Take only a fair share, and eat what you take. Do not pack your mouth full, play with your food, or talk with food in your mouth. When done eating, remove your tray or plate, then offer to remove those of the older persons at your table.
• If your parents or older persons are present at a ceremony, i.e., Young Marine Graduation, offer to get them refreshments, a seat, etc. Do not talk in a loud, noisy manner. People will remember it if you are rude.
• Vulgar language and profanity is rude, improper, and disgusting anytime. It shows no respect and is uncalled for. People remember whether you are polite or vulgar... BE POLITE.
• When entering or leaving a building, hold the door open for elders, ladies and children.
• In school, be polite and attentive to your teachers. Try to work with them and they will work with you.
• Keep your desk, locker, and belongings clean.
• Keep your hair neat and your fingernails clean, as personal hygiene is very important.
• Never ridicule or tease schoolmates about race, religion, clothing or dress, wearing glasses, their weight, etc.
• Always support your fellow Young Marines. Stick together.

Remember that part of the Young Marine Requirements for promotion include evaluation on how you interact with others in the home and school environments, i.e., respect for parents and elders, use of "sir" and "ma'am," attentiveness, politeness, obedience, effort and conduct in school, cooperation and helpfulness, completion of chores at home, independent action, manners and maturity.

Saluting

• Saluting
  If you are in uniform, the military hand salute is given out of a show of respect to all staff members whether they are in uniform or not.
  • Your salute should be given when you recognize that the person is a staff member. Usually this distance is not more than 30 paces nor less than 6 paces, so that the person that is receiving the salute has time to recognize and return it.
  • When you salute, turn your head so that you observe the officer and look him straight in the eye.
  • Salute sharply, it indicates your pride in your organization and yourself. Sloppy salutes are discourteous.
  • If you are in conversation with a staff member, you should salute again when either you or the staff member leaves. If you leave, take one step back after saluting, do an About Face, and march away.

• • If you are with a group of Young marines, not in formation, call the group to attention as soon as you recognize an officer approaching. If outdoors or in the Drill Hall, all members of the group, if covered, salute.
  • If indoors, stand at attention unless otherwise directed. This applies to the classroom as well.
  • If the group is in formation, it is to be called to attention by the person in charge and only that person will salute.
• If you meet a staff member on a ladder or in the gangway, halt and stand at attention. The hand salute is given only at a halt or a walk, not while running.
• If driving a motor vehicle, do not salute. If driving a car and colors are sounded or the National Anthem is played, the driver will stop the vehicle and occupants remain inside seated at attention.
• When you are in uniform and not in formation, and the National Anthem is played or "To the Colors" is sounded, at the first note face the music, stand at attention and give the salute. If in civilian clothing and covered, stand at attention, remove your cover, and hold it over your left breast. Hold this position until the last note of music. The same respect is shown the National Anthem of other countries when played at special occasions.
• If you are passed, or being passed, by an uncased National Color, render the same honors as when the National Anthem is played.
• If you are at a military funeral, not a member of a formation, whether in uniform or not, stand at attention, remove your cover and hold it over your left breast at any time the casket is being moved by the casket bearers and during the services at the grave, including the firing of volleys and the sounding of Taps. During prayers, bow your head. If the weather is cold or inclement, keep your cover on and give the hand salute whenever the casket is being moved by the casket bearers and during the firing of volleys and sounding of Taps.
• When a military funeral procession passes, salute during the period when the caisson or hearse bearing the remains in the procession is passing.

When NOT To Salute

• If in ranks and not at attention and a staff member speaks to you, come to attention, but do not salute.
• If a staff member enters the mess room, you remain seated "at ease" and continue eating unless directed otherwise. If the staff member speaks directly to you, remain seated, "at attention," until the conversation is ended, unless directed otherwise.
• Members of work details do not salute. The person in charge will salute for the entire detail.
• When participating in games or sports, you do not salute or stop play, unless directed otherwise.
• In churches, theaters, or other places of public assemblage, or in public transportation, do not salute. Indoors, salutes are not given except when reporting to a staff member and you are "under arms." A person wearing a duty belt or weapon is "under arms."
• Do not salute when carrying articles in both hands.
• When the Marines' Hymn is played, you stand at attention, but do not salute.