20151212-Z-RJ815-0792
The Maryland National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy held their course completion ceremony for the 22 week residency phase for 107 cadets of class #45 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground’s post theater on Saturday, Dec., 12.
The Academy is a two-phased 17-month intervention program for underemployed, drug-free, “at-risk” high school dropouts from the state of Maryland between 16-18 years of age. Following graduation from the resident phase, the cadets are mentored for an additional 12 months, during which time they are placed into jobs, continue their higher education, or vocational trades training or enter the military.
“Whether you realize it or not, you have turned a major corner on this journey called life,” said Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford the keynote speaker to the cadets. “You have been exposed to things and learned lessons of life that will keep you in good stead for the rest of your lives if you have the discipline to observe them.”
The mission of the Academy is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth and to produce graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as adults.
The students were brought into a structured and highly disciplined quasi-military academic setting that builds confidence and self-esteem to become productive and contributing members of our society. Cadets attend academic classes to prepare them for the test for the General Education Development (GED) credential and Maryland High School Diploma. The program is currently funded by National Guard Bureau and the State of Maryland (75/25 percent split).
This year marked the 22nd anniversary of the program and has been another extremely successful year for the academy. More than 4,000 cadets have graduated since the Academy’s beginning in 1993.
20151212-Z-RJ815-0792
The Maryland National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy held their course completion ceremony for the 22 week residency phase for 107 cadets of class #45 at the Aberdeen Proving Ground’s post theater on Saturday, Dec., 12.
The Academy is a two-phased 17-month intervention program for underemployed, drug-free, “at-risk” high school dropouts from the state of Maryland between 16-18 years of age. Following graduation from the resident phase, the cadets are mentored for an additional 12 months, during which time they are placed into jobs, continue their higher education, or vocational trades training or enter the military.
“Whether you realize it or not, you have turned a major corner on this journey called life,” said Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford the keynote speaker to the cadets. “You have been exposed to things and learned lessons of life that will keep you in good stead for the rest of your lives if you have the discipline to observe them.”
The mission of the Academy is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth and to produce graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as adults.
The students were brought into a structured and highly disciplined quasi-military academic setting that builds confidence and self-esteem to become productive and contributing members of our society. Cadets attend academic classes to prepare them for the test for the General Education Development (GED) credential and Maryland High School Diploma. The program is currently funded by National Guard Bureau and the State of Maryland (75/25 percent split).
This year marked the 22nd anniversary of the program and has been another extremely successful year for the academy. More than 4,000 cadets have graduated since the Academy’s beginning in 1993.