The success of the Brass City Detachment brought National attention to the state of Connecticut and by June of 1962, Connecticut had a youth program involving over 1500 boys in 10 cities and towns, sponsored by various Marine Corps League Detachments throughout the state. As the success of this program grew, talk of a National program intensified. Steve Zuraw of the Valley Detachment and Commanding Officer of all Marine Corps League units in Connecticut raised more than $5,000 and flew an entire Young Marine unit to the League's National Convention in Kansas City Mo.

At this convention, the League adopted the Young Marines as a National program. The official charter was issued on October 17 1965 and thereafter the program spread throughout the country.

To promote further interest in the Marine Corps League, the intent of the writer of the charter was to have the Young Marines Program traditionally and officially associated with the Marine Corps League by means of having individual Marine Corps League Detachments located in various communities throughout the nation sponsor the establishment and operation of Young Marines units and further, by having Marine Corps League members for the "adult Membership" for such Young Marines units. Chartered as a subsidiary organization of the MCL, the Young Marines began to function independently in 1974. In 1975, membership was extended to include females; in 1977, requirements were completed with the establishment of its By-Laws, which are laws adopted by an organization, and the election of its governing body.

By-Laws were approved in 1978 at the Atlantic City convention. In 1980, the organization was granted status as a youth educational organization with an IRS, or Internal Revenue Service, classification of 501(c)3. Many units are independently chartered within their state as youth organizations. In 1995 the organization went international with the forming of Young Marine units in Okinawa , Japan .

 Chronological Review

1958: First Young Marine Unit (Young Marines of Waterbury) formed in Waterbury, CT by members of the Brass City Detachment of the Marine Corps League.

1960: Young Marines of Waterbury grow to 300 Young Marines and 20 adult instructors.

1962: The Young Marines program grows to over 1500 boys in 10 cities and towns and gains national attention.

1965: Officially chartered on October 17, 1965 by the Marine Corps League and becomes a national youth program. October 17, 1965 is the official birthday of the Young Marines.

1974: Chartered as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League.

1975: Membership is extended to females.

1977: Young Marines governing body is elected and the Young Marines National By-laws are adopted.

1978: National By-laws approved at the Marine Corps League.

1980: Young Marines granted not-for-profit status as a youth educational organization by the Internal Revenue Service classification of 501(c) 3.

1993: Young Marines grow to 1,000 Young Marines and 300 adults in 45 units and becomes the focal point for the U.S. Marine Youth Drug Demand Reduction Program.

1995: Young Marines become international with units forming in Okinawa, Japan.

1999: Young Marines Board of Directors hire retired Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kessler as the first National Executive Director. First Young Marine Unit is formed in Alaska.

2000: Young Marines program expands to over 200 units in 38 States with over 11,000 Young Marines and nearly 2,000 adult volunteers.

2000: Young Marines participate in Youth Restoration Corps project along the Russian River in Alaska restoring Salmon Habitat.

2001: Summer Program of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments, and Schools (SPACES) is introduced with over 3,300 Young Marines participating.

2001: Young Marine units are formed at U.S. bases in Germany for military dependents.

2002: An affiliation formed between the Young Marines and the Australian Young Marines.

The Young Marines officially adopt a new motto: "Strengthening the lives of America's youth".

2002: Young Marines join with Army Cadets from Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden in its first cultural foreign exchange program.

The Young Marines welcome a very special new member to its ranks, Chester, our puppy bulldog mascot.