Madison, Alabama Young Marines are accepting applications for their upcoming “Boot Camp.”

However, this camp doesn’t involve rigorous physical training that active Marines endure. Boot Camp is an orientation program that each youth completes after joining a local Young Marine unit. Training usually is spread over several weekly meetings.

New recruits don’t attend a “military-style resident program,” Pettus said. “This Boot Camp is not a program where you send your children for an extended period.”

“The youth learn the general Young Marine subjects, such as history, close order drill, physical fitness, customs, courtesies and military rank structure,” point of contact Judy Pettus said.

After graduating from Boot Camp, Young Marines continue the character-building process and begin “a lifelong pursuit as productive and contributing citizens in their community,” Pettus said.

Young Marines typically meet twice weekly throughout the year. Their headquarters are located at Madison Senior Center, 1282 Hughes Road.

Young Marines of the Marine Corps League is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 youth education and service program for boys and girls, eight-year-olds through high school seniors. Their adult leaders often are former, retired, active duty or reserve Marines “who believe passionately that the values they learned as Marines continue to have a positive affect on them,” Pettus said.

Personnel with the Young Marines National Headquarters individually screen adult volunteers.

After one year in Young Marines, the youth can enroll in SPACES or Summer Programs of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments and Schools. For more information, visit youngmarines.com/summerProg.htm.

Boot Camp will meet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28 and May 5, 12 and 19. Graduation will be held on May 20 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The registration fee for recruits is $185. The fee includes utility coat and trousers, cover, boots and boot bands, patches, Young Marine handbook and name tags.

To register for boot camp, call Staff Sgt. Mitchell C. Stease at 256-797-3676 or 256-316-2902, send email to madisonyoungmarines@yahoo.com or visit orgsites.com/al/ymariness.