Columbus MEPS Marine Inspires Local High School Football Team

When Marine Corps Sgt. Richard Young’s nephew asked if he could bring some Marines out to his high school football practice, Young, Columbus MEPS human resources assistant, didn’t hesitate to find a way to make it happen. With the support of the local recruiting station sergeant major, Marines partnered with the team to deliver a workout that left a lasting impact.

“The kids were challenged and couldn’t believe that’s what Marines do for physical fitness,” Young said. “Some of them wanted nothing to do with it, but a good number stayed after to talk to us. That was the best part—being a positive influence and letting them know there are opportunities beyond college.”

The workout was more than pushups and sprints. It was about teaching teamwork, conflict resolution and leadership. Young used football analogies to connect with the players.

“If you’re the quarterback or the sergeant, you have to be a team player,” he said. “Otherwise, the whole team suffers.”

He even had players lead rep counts and help teammates finish strong, mirroring the “no Marine left behind” mindset.

For Young, the experience was as much about growth as it was about giving back.

“I’ll be honest, I was nervous because I’m not big on public speaking, but this reminded me that it’s worth stepping outside your comfort zone if it means you can make a difference for someone else,” he said.

After the session, the football team presented Young with a signed helmet.

“As a team trophy, it meant a lot,” he said. “Even my leadership allowing me to go do this, it showed that we’re stronger when we support each other. To me, the helmet represents that teamwork.”

That helmet has now found a permanent home in Columbus MEPS’s new living trophy case, an initiative started by Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Onion, Columbus MEPS senior enlisted advisor, and Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew Burnham, Columbus MEPS commander, to highlight the past careers of MEPS staff, their current achievements, and their on-going connections with the community.

“Before the living trophy case, we had trophies from the 1970s that no one here had a connection to,” Burnham explained. “The helmet was the first piece to go in the new case, and it represents what our people care about now.”

The living trophy case, and the football team workout that inspired it, show how small community connections can leave a lasting mark—both on the MEPS and the next generation.