The Young Marines Alumni Association is putting the spotlight on Alumni Trey Capers. Trey was a Young Marine from 2001-09, rose through the ranks, and was honored as the 2008 Division 4 Young Marine of the Year. “The Young Marines has been nothing but a positive impact on my life,” said Trey. After graduating from St. Augustine High School (New Orleans), Trey went on to earn a degree in Dance from Howard University, a federally chartered historically black university (HBCU). Trey is currently an emergency room patient care technician at University Medical Center in New Orleans and is also working on his nursing degrees.
Trey is a testament to the resiliency that the Young Marines helps instill and draw out of its youth. At just 8 years old, Trey was diagnosed with Type-1 childhood diabetes. He recalls the time around his diagnosis as being the “worst ever.” He said, “I couldn’t hold down food or liquids, and lost so much weight. I felt like the walking dead.” After diagnosis, however, Trey and his family were able to manage the disease with proper nutrition. So much so that in addition to excelling in Young Marines, he was a multi-sport athlete in high school (track, basketball, and football). Trey is still an athlete, but now it is on the dance stage.
As a dancer, Trey is trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, African and Tap. His dancing career is highlighted by performances on the BET Awards and several other TV shows, and includes performances with Diddy, Migos, and Montell Jordan. In addition, he has performed in musical theater at the Atlanta Lyric Theater, Marrietta Theater in the Square, Aurora Theater and more. Trey’s dancing career has not come without challenges. In addition to the ongoing struggle of managing his diabetes, in April 2018 he was admitted to the hospital for diabetic foot ulcers. This condition developed an infection which reached the bones in two of his toes. Those toes required amputation the next day.
Trey went through the process of recovering, both physically and mentally, and he came out a stronger man. His hopes for a productive dancing career were only momentarily dashed. Today, Trey trains and teaches others the craft at the dance studio where he was trained; he especially enjoys his youth students. Not only has Trey returned to his home studio, he is also a dedicated adult volunteer with his home Young Marines unit (JPSO), and was named the Regimental Adult Volunteer of the Year. “I am so happy that I can give back to the program by volunteering with today’s Young Marines,” said Trey. The Young Marines Alumni Association truly appreciates Trey’s commitment back to the program and his continued embodiment of the Young Marines’ values.
