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 Son follows father into ChalleNGe Academy for 2nd chance By Maj. (MD) Richard P. Barnes,
                Maryland Defense Force, Public Affairs
 BALTIMORE – Twenty years after Brandon Bullock attended the Maryland National Guard’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, his son, Jeremy, joined the same program at the Edgewood Arsenal of Aberdeen Proving Ground July 11. While a whole new experience awaits Jeremy in the program, which provides at-risk youth with academic, job and life skills training focusing on positive values, his father will know what he will be doing for the next 5 1/2 months. The structured environment gives cadets hope and the opportunity to become productive citizens. While enrolled in the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, cadets can earn a GED diploma and obtain a driver’s license. “I noticed my son going down a similar track that I was on at one point in my life,” said Brandon Bullock, who attended the program in 2001. “We discussed it and thought it would be in his best interest to come here and do the same thing I did to turn my life around.” Established under federal and state law in 1993, the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is a state-run, nearly 18-week residential and post-residential intervention for 16– to 18-year-olds who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. When asked what changes he noticed in his life after graduating, Brandon said: “Mainly, having structure in my life, accountability for myself and my actions and to be able to set goals for myself in the future.” Once Jeremy was in-processed,  he and his father embraced before parting ways. Both are looking forward to a positive outcome for Jeremy. The Freestate ChalleNGe Academy is a division of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. It services students from around Maryland and accepts applications year-round. Classes begin twice each year, in January and July, and are continuous for 5 1⁄2 months. Following the residential phase of the program, cadets must complete the 12-month post-residential phase.
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