U.S. Marine Detachment vets mentor next generation
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
The borough’s only detachment of a
U.S. Marine Corps veterans’ organization,
Marine Corps League Yankee Detachment
255, hosted an educational
seminar for new recruits who have
committed to entering the Marines.
The event took place on Saturday,
May 11 at the Samuel Young American
Legion Post #620.
The recruitment meeting was held
in conjunction with representatives
from the borough’s two U.S. Marine
recruiting centers at 2167 Westchester
Avenue and 2488 Grand Concourse,
said Michael McNerney, a member of
Marine Corps League Yankee Detachment
255 who spearheaded the effort.
Most were young people, 17- to
20-years-old, who plan to enter the
corps within the next year, he said.
McNerney said that the goal of the
mentoring exercise was for members
of the detachment to share fi rst-hand
knowledge, offer advice and provide
perspectives on what to do, what not
to do, and how the Marine experience
can jettison their future success.
“We are trying to pass on our experiences
so they can deal with it, because
boot camp can be stressful to
say the least,” said Owen Mangan, Detachment
255 commander. “We will be
speaking about what to do and what
not to do.”
The young men and women that are
part of the Marine Delayed Entry Program
have already been found qualifi
ed, mentally and physically, for service,
said McNerney.
Many will have never been away
from home before they leave for U.S
Marine training, said McNerney.
“A lot of these kids come from immigrant
parents or are inner city
youth,” said McNerney. “This may be
the fi rst time they are meeting a U.S.
Marine Corps veteran, and this event
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is a way for Marine veterans to impart
knowledge of our experiences to these
fi ne young people.”
The U.S. Marine Corps hasn’t
changed all that much over time, so
listening to the experiences of veterans
should prove helpful to the young
people in their future of service, said
McNerney.
A barbecue followed the event.
U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Trevor
Nakaahiki, based out of the west
Michael McNerney, a member of the Marine
Corps League Yankee Detachment 255, organized
a meet and greet at Samuel Young
American Legion Post #620 with young U.S
Marine recruits and veterans of the corps on
Saturday, May 11.
Bronx’s recruiting station, said that 50
to 60 recruits who have already committed
to basic training at Parris Island,
SC attended.
Marine Corps League Yankee Detachment
255 regularly meets at the
Samuel Young Post and is open to all
former U.S. Marines.
In the blue shirts are ‘poolies’ enrolled in The Delayed Entry Program out of the west Bronx’s
Marine Corps Recruiting Offi ce.The fi ve individuals standing in the rear with black shirts are
U.S. Marine Corps recruiters. Photo courtesy of Michael McNerney