Sean C. Morgan
In a cabin in the woods off Old Hufford Road, youngsters listen as a teenager in camouflage military clothing and a precise buzz haircut gives them instructions.
The youths are Young Marine recruits, here for “boot camp” at a former Boy Scout facility in the woods off Old Hufford Road.
The six-acre camp was built in the early 1960s, said Don Austin, who founded the Linn-Benton Chapter of the Young Marines. A couple of years ago, the camp was overgrown, with blackberries growing up to the eaves of a cabin on the site. The building itself had signs that it had been used for drugs in its abandoned state – and now, ironically, is a focal point for the Young Marines’ anti-drug efforts.
Foster Boy Scouts officials gave the Young Marines permission to manage the property and use it.
They started working on it a couple of years ago after Dave and Jane Strom brought it to their attention, pointing them to Ben Dahlenburgh. As long as it is being used by young people, Austin said, the owners were open to its use by the Young Marines.
“They’ve turned over to us to use,” he said. The organization has ordered new roofing materials, installed new windows and doors. They’ve cleared the blackberries and gotten the water running inside and outside. They built a lean-to outside the cabin. They’ve also graveled a muddy section of roadway.
They’ve received help from Wells Hickock of Lebanon. Alex Paul has been at the camp spraying blackberries and washing the building. Lester Sales donated a culvert for the road.
Inside, the Young Marines have the lights working throughout. The walls have been sheet-rocked, Austin said, but they’re holding off on the ceiling until the roofing is complete.
In the meantime, the Young Marines use the camp about once a month for a variety of encampments and activities, he said. The last two weekends, they have had their recruit training for the Emerald Empire Chapter from Eugene and the Linn-Benton Chapter.
“We teach them all of the basic principles of the Young Marines,” Austin said. That includes their uniform, how to address adults, basic first aid, nutrition and physical fitness. It also includes the core purpose of the Young Marines, which is the “drug demand reduction force” of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“We just train them to where they can step up and start to be a Young Marine,” Austin said. “Our mission is to raise the young people up in a healthy drug-free environment to become leaders for tomorrow.”
Young Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ian Search of Sweet Home organized and supervised the recruit training. Search, who has participated in several of the recruit trainings, is the senior Young Marine in the Northern Oregon Battalion, which includes Eugene with 18 members, Linn-Benton with 37 members and Portland with 75 members. He recently attended a Sixth Division encampment, which includes eight states, and he is the last remaining member of the original Linn-Benton Chapter formed three years ago.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself leadership-wise,” Search said, adding that he’s also found inspiration in others, such as Casey Scott, the National Young Marine of the Year from Quantico, Va. “Also I get to meet a lot of people.”
Don Austin, left, stands outside the Young Marines “Boot Camp” facility with Gunnery Sgt. Ian Search of the Sweet Home unit.
During their training, recruits learned about Red Ribbon Week, which is the last week in October, and Enrique (Kiki) Camarena. Red Ribbon Week began as a way for students to pledge to stay drug free while honoring Camarena’s memory. Camarena died in the line of duty working for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Red Ribbon Week is the focal point of the entire year for Young Marines,” Austin said.
Beyond its anti-drug efforts, the Young Marines also encourage college, Search said.
“I will do everything I can to talk them out of going into the military,” Austin said. “It’s not recruitment. I spent eight years in the Corps. I learned my lesson growing up in Vietnam.”
On the flipside, Search, who is a high school sophomore, has intended to join the Marine Corps since before he joined the Young Marines, he said, and it has been a point of discussion between him and Austin.
The recruit training, held in October, had 11 new Young Marine recruits, Search said. It was run by four Young Marines, including Lance Cpl Brendon Whaley of Albany, Search, Lance Cpl. Alec Apparcel of Eugene and Lance Cpl. Brandon Ware of Eugene. The adults supervise and provide help where requested.
“I supervise the encampment,” Search said. “I plan it, and I make sure it’s running smoothly.”
The Young Marines are open to boys and girls ages 10 to 18. The next recruit training is in April. The Young Marines hold two per year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
The Young Marines accept donations.
For information or to join, call Austin at (541) 367-9822 or Jim Search at (541) 619-8691.