Capital City Young Marines History

The Capital City Young Marines were chartered in 2001.
We serve the triangle area by providing community service whenever possible. We also provide many honor guards, and color guards and have marched in parades in the cities of Raleigh, Holly Springs, and Cary.
We have had the honor of standing alongside the Patriot Guard on several occasions including wreath laying ceremonies on the graves of fallen military personnel and welcoming home WWII Veterans at the Flight of Honor.
We have had the honor of providing Honor Guards for the Flags for Fallen Military organization that installs flag poles for families who have lost their military loved one and provides them with a ceremonial flag.
We have also had the honor of helping members of the U.S. Marine Corps collect toys and donations at many Toys for Tots locations including homecoming games at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium where we helped collect tens of thousands of dollars.
We serve the triangle area by providing community service whenever possible. We also provide many honor guards, and color guards and have marched in parades in the cities of Raleigh, Holly Springs, and Cary.
We have had the honor of standing alongside the Patriot Guard on several occasions including wreath laying ceremonies on the graves of fallen military personnel and welcoming home WWII Veterans at the Flight of Honor.
We have had the honor of providing Honor Guards for the Flags for Fallen Military organization that installs flag poles for families who have lost their military loved one and provides them with a ceremonial flag.
We have also had the honor of helping members of the U.S. Marine Corps collect toys and donations at many Toys for Tots locations including homecoming games at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium where we helped collect tens of thousands of dollars.
Superior AWARDS
The Capital City Young Marines have received several awards from higher levels to include:
- National:
- Marine Corps League Commendation
- Drug Demand Reduction (w/ Fulcrum Shield)
- (4x) Organized Unit Trip (w/ Gold Frame)
- Division:
- (2x) Young Marine Unit Commendation (w/ Gold Palm)
- (2x) Young Marine Encampment (w/ Gold Palm)
- Regiment:
- Unit of the Year (w/ Silver Palm)
- Drill Competition (w/ Silver Palm)
UNIT Awards
Each year at the Young Marines Birthday Ball, individual awards are handed out to deserving Young Marines and Adult Volunteers. These awards are named after individuals we have lost that were close to our unit and to our hearts. A brief description of each honored award is listed below.

LCpl Eric J. Schreiber Award
Outstanding Character
Lance Corporal Eric Schreiber, USMC, brother of Amy Smith, was a former Young Marine before joining the Marine Corps. He tragically lost his life in a training accident in 29 Palms, California in 1994. He was an outstanding young man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine who has shown outstanding character.
Recipients:
2011: YM Jude Smith
2012: YM Karl Hill
2013: YM Brian Alston
2014: YM Brandon Collins
2015: YM William Fowler
2016: YM Miguel Vigil-Rosas
2017: YM Andrew Amerson
2018: YM Elijah Lapinskies
2019: YM Iliana Castillo
Outstanding Character
Lance Corporal Eric Schreiber, USMC, brother of Amy Smith, was a former Young Marine before joining the Marine Corps. He tragically lost his life in a training accident in 29 Palms, California in 1994. He was an outstanding young man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine who has shown outstanding character.
Recipients:
2011: YM Jude Smith
2012: YM Karl Hill
2013: YM Brian Alston
2014: YM Brandon Collins
2015: YM William Fowler
2016: YM Miguel Vigil-Rosas
2017: YM Andrew Amerson
2018: YM Elijah Lapinskies
2019: YM Iliana Castillo

TSGT Adam Ginett Award
Outstanding Adult Volunteer
Technical Sergeant Adam Ginett, USAF-EOD was the son of Jim and Christina Kazakavage and grandson of Jim Haslam. He tragically lost his life when he was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. He was an outstanding young man and we honor his memory by awarding a Registered Adult who has shown outstanding initiative.
Recipients:
2013: Ms. Beverly Hill
2014: Mr. Andrew Blizzard & Mr. Tyrone Ashe
2015: Mr. Phillip Miller
2016: Mr. Bill Peddy
2017: Mrs. Donna Amerson
2018: Mrs. Cheryl Alston and Toni Smith
2019: Mrs. Diana Rodriguez
Outstanding Adult Volunteer
Technical Sergeant Adam Ginett, USAF-EOD was the son of Jim and Christina Kazakavage and grandson of Jim Haslam. He tragically lost his life when he was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. He was an outstanding young man and we honor his memory by awarding a Registered Adult who has shown outstanding initiative.
Recipients:
2013: Ms. Beverly Hill
2014: Mr. Andrew Blizzard & Mr. Tyrone Ashe
2015: Mr. Phillip Miller
2016: Mr. Bill Peddy
2017: Mrs. Donna Amerson
2018: Mrs. Cheryl Alston and Toni Smith
2019: Mrs. Diana Rodriguez

Cpl Jim Haslam Award
Perseverance
Jim Haslam, was the founder and first Unit Commander of the Capital City Young Marines, which received it's charter in 2001. Even after he passed along his duties as Unit Commander, he stayed involved with the unit. He bravely and stubbornly fought cancer for many years, even walking out of hospice, before losing that battle in 2015. He was an amazing man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine or Registered Adult who has faced adversity with bravery.
Recipients:
2015: Mr. Christopher Ross
2016: Mr. Andrew Blizzard
2017: YM Jonathan Rodriguez
2018: Mrs. Donna Amerson
2019: Mr. Joe Goresky
Perseverance
Jim Haslam, was the founder and first Unit Commander of the Capital City Young Marines, which received it's charter in 2001. Even after he passed along his duties as Unit Commander, he stayed involved with the unit. He bravely and stubbornly fought cancer for many years, even walking out of hospice, before losing that battle in 2015. He was an amazing man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine or Registered Adult who has faced adversity with bravery.
Recipients:
2015: Mr. Christopher Ross
2016: Mr. Andrew Blizzard
2017: YM Jonathan Rodriguez
2018: Mrs. Donna Amerson
2019: Mr. Joe Goresky

Cpl John Skuce Award
Outstanding Attitude
John Skuce, was the first Executive Officer of the Capital City Young Marines, when it received it's charter in 2001. He and his wife, Joyce, hosted many unit encampments at their home in Mt. Olive, NC. Though his health had been failing before his death in 2016, he always maintained a smile and positive attitude. He was an amazing man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine who has shown a consistent positive attitude, especially in adversity.
Recipients:
2016: YM Nadia Hinton
2017: YM Jaylen Coston
2018: YM Jason Burke
2019: YM Brianna Rodriguez
Outstanding Attitude
John Skuce, was the first Executive Officer of the Capital City Young Marines, when it received it's charter in 2001. He and his wife, Joyce, hosted many unit encampments at their home in Mt. Olive, NC. Though his health had been failing before his death in 2016, he always maintained a smile and positive attitude. He was an amazing man and we honor his memory by awarding a Young Marine who has shown a consistent positive attitude, especially in adversity.
Recipients:
2016: YM Nadia Hinton
2017: YM Jaylen Coston
2018: YM Jason Burke
2019: YM Brianna Rodriguez
Unit Young Marine of the Year (YMOY)
Nominated each year by their fellow Young Marines and voted on by Adult Volunteers based on the Young Marine's knowledge, professionalism, attention to detail, and leadership capabilities.
2007: YM Keya Gibbons (also Battalion YMOY)
2009: YM Keya Gibbons
2010: YM Benjamin Tim
2011: YM Austin Cobb (also Battalion & Regimental YMOY)
2012: YM Austin Cobb (also Battalion, Regimental, and Division YMOY)
2013: YM Brian Alston (also Battalion YMOY)
2014: YM Jude Smith
2015: YM Cooper Johnston (also Battalion, Regimental, and Division YMOY)
2016: YM Gavin McKendrick (also Battalion & Regimental YMOY)
2017: YM Julian Wallace
2018: YM Ana Smith
2019: YM Penelope Alcantara
Nominated each year by their fellow Young Marines and voted on by Adult Volunteers based on the Young Marine's knowledge, professionalism, attention to detail, and leadership capabilities.
2007: YM Keya Gibbons (also Battalion YMOY)
2009: YM Keya Gibbons
2010: YM Benjamin Tim
2011: YM Austin Cobb (also Battalion & Regimental YMOY)
2012: YM Austin Cobb (also Battalion, Regimental, and Division YMOY)
2013: YM Brian Alston (also Battalion YMOY)
2014: YM Jude Smith
2015: YM Cooper Johnston (also Battalion, Regimental, and Division YMOY)
2016: YM Gavin McKendrick (also Battalion & Regimental YMOY)
2017: YM Julian Wallace
2018: YM Ana Smith
2019: YM Penelope Alcantara

The Daughters of the American Revolution
Outstanding Cadet Medal
The DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal is awarded to a Young Marine of outstanding ability and achievement. Recipient must have distinguished him or herself through outstanding leadership, honor, service, courage, and patriotism.
Recipients:
2017: YM Vincent Schetrom
2018: YM Jude Smith
2021: YM Dominic Austin
Outstanding Cadet Medal
The DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal is awarded to a Young Marine of outstanding ability and achievement. Recipient must have distinguished him or herself through outstanding leadership, honor, service, courage, and patriotism.
Recipients:
2017: YM Vincent Schetrom
2018: YM Jude Smith
2021: YM Dominic Austin