National Guard Youth Foundation : Making a Difference

CONTACT: Kelly Rossman-McKinney
517-487-9320
Jul 23, 2006

STRUGGLING TO SUCCEED

At-risk teens strive to pass muster at National Guard’s Pre-ChalleNGe

By Susan Vela
Lansing State Journal, MI

AUGUSTA - Reveille tried Ryan Gillilland the most.

Bugles blasting through the barracks at 5:30 a.m. were a daily harbinger of trials to come:

Drill sergeants’ harsh commands.

Push-ups, jumping jacks, overhead arm claps, two-mile cadence runs in scorching heat.

And ceaseless thoughts of quitting the Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy, the National Guard’s one-of-a-kind military school for at-risk teens.