Brittany Brandon, 12, center, lines up with other Young Marines and recruits in the Young Marines of RDU unit outside the Durham Police headquarters in downtown Durham during a weekly meeting that includes physical training.

Brittany, who has been in the Young Marines for a year, is one of only a few girls in the unit. When asked why she joined, she replies, “I thought it was cool, and I just wanted to follow in my grandaddy’s footsteps.” She hopes to join the Marines as an adult.

Brittany says that the best things about being in the Young Marines are going on trips and the physical training, but she also says that the physical training is the most challenging. Over the past year, she says she has learned that “you should always give your parents respect and you should never talk back. You should never talk back to anyone and just use your common sense by saying right things.” After a pause, Brittany adds, “If you’d like to be a Marine or a Young Marine, just follow your heart and just do your best.”

To learn more about the Young Marines of RDU, contact Master Gunnery Sgt. Rocky Visconti at 806-2242 or public relations officer Perry Reaves at 732-7495.