Local Young Marine Named Top Graduate from 2024 National Leadership Academy Senior Leadership School

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, proudly announced Camilo Medina as the 2024 National Leadership Academy’s Senior Leadership School (SLS) Honor Graduate. Held at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island from July 13-20, this prestigious program saw Young Marines from across the country gather to hone their leadership, mentorship, and management skills. Medina, a dedicated member of the Manassas Young Marines unit in Virginia, emerged as the top performer, showcasing exceptional leadership qualities.

Camilo Medina, a Manassas Young Marine, has graduated from the prestigious Young Marines Senior Leadership Academy in Newport, Rhode Island.

At just 14 years old, Camilo Medina from Front Royal, Virginia, is a rising ninth-grade student at Randolph-Macon Academy. He has ambitious plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he aims to major in engineering and business. His time at the Senior Leadership School has given him invaluable experience, particularly in mentoring and guiding others.

“The leadership and planning courses will be of great benefit to me in running a business and being an effective leader and team player in the military,” Camilo shared. His enthusiasm and dedication were evident throughout the training, which included various physical challenges designed to test and develop the participants’ abilities.

The Senior Leadership School is recognized as the highest level of leadership training offered by the Young Marines. Col. William P. Davis USMC (Ret), the national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines, praised the graduates, stating, “This graduation is an important time in the lives of these Young Marines. Coming from all social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds from throughout the United States, their accomplishments are based entirely on merit. The demanding training is rigorous, but year after year, the NLA graduates report back that this training is invaluable in their future endeavors.”

The Young Marines organization, including boys and girls aged eight through high school graduation, emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and self-discipline. The program also focuses heavily on physical fitness, citizenship through community service, and maintaining a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Participants in the National Leadership Academy are selected based on their maturity and leadership skills demonstrated in their local units.

Since its inception in 1959, the Young Marines has grown from a single unit with a handful of boys to over 200 units with 5,000 youth and 1,950 adult volunteers across 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan (Okinawa), and other countries. The organization’s growth and impact are a testament to its commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow.

For more information about the Young Marines and their programs, visit YoungMarines.org.