Tristan Begines was in eighth grade when he first joined the Lewis and Clark Young Marines program. Four years later, he has risen to the top of the ranks with a distinction held by only a few: Young Marine of the Year.
The 17-year-old resident of the Curtin Creek area north of Vancouver initially had reservations about joining the Ridgefield-based program, which aims to foster the mental, moral and physical development of youth. But Begines, who is autistic, said he was determined to succeed. He didn’t want autism to define him. On Jan. 1, a special divisional board named him the 2025 Division 5 Young Marine of the Year — one of just six in the nation and the second in his unit to earn the title in 22 years.
Begines said when he first joined, he wasn’t sure it was a good fit for him.
“I wasn’t used to that kind of environment. But after I got into it more and got to see some of the stuff I was able to do, it made me want to stay,” Begines said. “We model ourselves after the Marine Corps. I think that really sold me on the program and showed me I could accomplish things.”
Begines got the call on New Year’s Day that he had won the title for Division 5, which encompasses Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
In late February, Begines and the five other divisional winners traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak to lawmakers about how the program benefits youth.
In April, Begines will travel to Texas to compete for the National Young Marine of the Year title, the highest honor given by the organization.
Begines said earning the division title has changed his perspective on leadership. He wants those younger than him, regardless of where they come from, to thrive in the program.
“It’s kind of like the final piece I can accomplish in my career as a Young Marine,” Begines said.
National honor
The Young Marines is a national nonprofit that started in 1959 with just one unit and a handful of boys. Today, the organization has grown to about 280 units with 9,600 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 46 states, according to its website.
The program is intended for boys and girls, ages 8 through high school, and focuses on leadership, community service, self-discipline and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Within the Lewis and Clark Chapter in Ridgefield, the units are led by adult volunteers who work to mentor the next generation.
Youth members participate in outside field activities, hiking and learn general subjects such as history, customs and courtesies, physical fitness, and military rank structure.
After joining the Young Marines in 2020, Begines underwent a recruitment cycle and was selected as the Honor Graduate for his recruit class.
“Tristan is a proven leader and an exemplary Young Marine,” retired Marine Corps Col. and CEO of the Young Marines William P. Davis previously said. “He is an outstanding example and role model for his fellow Young Marines. His academic, unit and community accomplishments are outstanding. Like each of our six division winners, Tristan shows strong leadership qualities. His tireless dedication to the program, mentoring others and aligning his personal mission with that of the Young Marines to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle makes him an ideal candidate to earn the National Young Marine of the Year title.”
Breaking barriers
Initially, Begines didn’t want anyone to know that he was autistic.
Before joining the Young Marines, Begines struggled with social interactions and communication.
But taking on a leadership role has given him the chance to interact with others more frequently, develop his speaking skills, communication and overall confidence.
“It’s actually one of the biggest things that have changed because of the program. With autism, I naturally struggle with a lot of those skills, especially social-based skills,” Begines said. “I think this program really did push me to grow with them and really did push me to better myself.”
In the United States, 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Because autism is a spectrum disorder, every person has a different set of skills, challenges and needs. Some people with autism may have advanced conversation skills, whereas others may be nonverbal.
People with autism may behave, communicate, interact and learn in ways that are different from most other people, according to the CDC.
“With my son, I never wanted him to see autism as something that held him back. It was just a piece of who he is,” said Jessica McCombs, Begines’ mother. “We kind of leaned into that when he wanted to try this out. Even though we were not sure it was going to be a right fit for him, we trusted that he had the determination, and he would determine if it was a good fit on his own.”
Begines said one of the biggest misconceptions about people with autism is that they lack the ability to grow in life.
McCombs said her son has a special passion for helping younger program participants.
In addition, he wants to mentor other kids with autism, McCombs said. Begines is currently a junior at Ridgefield High School but also participates in Running Start classes at Clark College. After he graduates in 2026, he wants to attend a four-year university and move into a medical career within the U.S. Army.
“My mindset is I want to make the kids below me better than I was. In my mentorship, I hope to give them better tools and leadership so they can grow in their own way,” Begines said.
