Beginning in October of every year, the Young Marines begins its process of selecting a National Young Marine of the Year. This endeavor begins at the unit level.

After competing at the unit's Oct. 15 drill night, YM Cpl. Kiera Burlingame McCord was chosen as the Three Rivers Young Marines Young Marine of the Year. McCord is a sophomore who attends the New London STEM school and also participates in their Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp program.　

This past summer,  McCord attended the 4H Ambassador's program in Washington, D.C., spent a week sailing aboard the Coast Guard's barque Eagle, spent a week in Georgia at the Young Marines National Encampment, and spent a week in Oregon attending the National Young Marines Junior Leadership program.