Cadets II-21
Image by Maryland National Guard
The Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is a two-phased 17-month intervention program for underemployed, drug-free, “at-risk” high school dropouts from the state of Maryland. The first phase consists of 22 weeks in residency at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. 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 education or enter the military. 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. Students are 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 to test for the General Education Development credential and Maryland High School Diploma.
2012 marked the 19th anniversary of the program and was another extremely successful year for the Academy. More than 200 students will graduate this year, and more than 3,100 cadets have graduated since the Academy’s beginning in 1993.
Cadets II-21 is a post from: Intervention Therapy