Connecticut Teen Named Young Marine Of The Year

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announced the Division 1 Young Marine of the Year - YM/SgtMaj MaKayla D. Barstow, 15, of Moosup, Connecticut. She is a member of the Natchaug River Young Marines in Danielson, Connecticut, under the command of Joseph Couture. She is a sophomore at Plainfield High School.

Barstow is the top Young Marine in Division 1 which includes seven states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, and part of West Virginia. Over the course of the year, she will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other Young Marines.

As Division 1 Young Marine of the Year, Barstow will escort WWII veterans in March 2021 to the annual Reunion of Honor trip which takes place in Guam and Iwo Jima. The island of Iwo Jima is open only one day each year for this special reunion of Japanese and American veterans.

“Being named Division Young Marine of the Year fills me with a great sense of pride, honor, and accomplishment,” Barstow said. “I have dreamt of achieving this prestigious award since I was a Young Marine Private First Class. I’ve seen all the opportunities my brother had as a Division Young Marine of the Year, and that has inspired me to aim for this goal.”

Barstow joined the Young Marines at age eight and is in her seventh year in the program. She was encouraged by her parents and siblings to join because the family observed positive changes in her sister and brother from their involvement in the national youth organization.

As a Young Marine, she was awarded the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) device in 2017 and the Gold Presidential Award. In addition, she was named the 2018 Natchaug River Young Marine of the Year. Barstow participated in the Great American History Adventure, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, and received the Perfect Physical Fitness Score ribbon in 2018.

In 2019, she was awarded the Southern New England Regiment Young Marine of the Year, was cadre for the Division 1 Junior Leadership School, and was awarded the Commendation of Merit. She also attended NLA Senior Leadership School (SLS). MaKayla received the Distinguished Order of Merit award, and was a Top Ten graduate at the NLA Advanced Leadership School (ALS) held in Dumfries, Virginia in 2020.

Outside the Young Marines, Barstow received the Eastern Connecticut Conference Sportsmanship award and made the All-Star team for the conference. She has been cheerleading for 10 years and in 2019, was the only freshman on the Plainfield High School’s varsity basketball cheer team. She belongs to Plainfield High School’s Chamber Choir and is a member of the school’s symphonic and marching band. Barstow’s sees her future as earning a degree in Music Education and ultimately, to teach music.

“MaKayla Barstow's rapid rise through our program is a testimony to her personal drive and excellence,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. "All our division winners show great qualities of leadership and reverence to veterans. Each lives a healthy drug-free lifestyle which is a foundation of the Young Marines program."

Barstow is the daughter of Jessica and Mark Barstow. She has a brother and a sister who were both Young Marines.

“The Young Marines program has given me very important tools that I will use in and out of the program,” Barstow said. “I have gained self-confidence as a leader and as an individual which has helped me understand that failure is just one more step to success. The program has taught me how to inspire my peers and mentor them to become the best leaders they can be.”

How it works

The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Division Young Marine of the Year must meet vigorous requirements such as graduating from Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, maintaining high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.

Barstow will represent Division 1 in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 8,000 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://www.YoungMarines.com.