Local teen is top participant at Young Marines leadership school

Youth members of the Young Marines from across the country are participating in leadership school over the summer months.

YM/Cpl Richard Barr, Jr., 12, of Mingo Junction, OH and YM/LCpl Shaun Lebbano, Jr. of Carrollton, traveled to the 2nd Division Young Marines’ Junior Leadership School held mid-July at Woodfield Scout Preservation in Asheboro, NC.

A national youth organization, the Young Marines is a leadership program for boys and girls age eight through high school graduation.

The program emphasizes the core values of teamwork, leadership and discipline. It focuses on American history, physical fitness, public speaking, citizenship, community service and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

YM/Cpl Barr  and YM/LCpl Lebbano  trained for one week in North Carolina to become better leaders alongside 15 other Young Marines from across the country.

After physical and written tests, obstacle courses, leadership classes and close order drill, Barr and Lebbano both successfully graduated.

Lebbano was selected as the top Young Marine at the 2nd Division Junior Leadership School. 

“At first I was kind of nervous about attending, but their style of teaching and everyone’s all around welcoming attitude really dissipated my anxiety.  It truly was a great experience for me, mainly because it broadened my knowledge and understanding of what being a leader is.  Not only that, but how I can become my own successful leader and how to help others become their own as well.  I made many friendships and many memories that I will never forget.  I’m very thankful that I was able to go to Junior Leadership School,” he said.

Lebbano is a junior at Carrollton High School. He joined the Young Marines at age 14 and currently, he is in his second year in the program.

Barr is in the 7th grade at Harding Middle School.  He joined the Young Marines at the age of 8 and he is in his 3rd year of the program.

“JLS was an awesome experience.  I got to know other Young Marines from all over the country. We promised each other we would come back to attend the Senior Leadership School next year.  Lebbano and I are looking forward to teaching our unit what we learned at JLS,” noted Barr.

Barr and Lebbano are members of the Tri-State Young Marines under the command of Gabriel Arlia. Tri-State typically meets at the VFW in Weirton, WV, however in the summer months, they meet at the picnic shelter of the American Legion Post 557, Wintersville and the Jefferson County Airpark.