Maj. Jeffrey Helms, the Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy’s commandant, renders proper courtesies on stage as did YCA cadets and their family members while the national anthem was sung at the opening ceremony of the Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy’s Family Day held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 31 on the YCA Campus in the Brems Barracks Circle, which is adjacent to the Post Exchange complex. Cadet Jonathan Myles sang the national anthem. The Youth Challenge Academy held their annual Family Day Oct. 31 on Fort Gordon.

Events included drill ceremonies/competitions, meals provided by the dining facility and a variety of games and activities for the whole family.

Family members of YCA cadets spent time with the members of Class 09-01, which is made up of 268 cadets scheduled to graduate March 6.

YCA is a 22-week residential program for “at risk” Georgia high school dropouts. The state’s National Guard sponsors the program which gives the cadets an opportunity to turn their lives around by acquiring life skills and their General Education Diploma. The program is free to the cadets.

Photos by Bonnie Heater To learn more about the National Guard ChalleNGe program visit www.ngcp.org.

A member of Wolf Pack, Platoon 2, performs a series of back flips during the drill ceremony portion of the Youth Challenge Academy Family Day, held on post Oct. 31. All four platoons performed their routines before their families and friends.
Maj. Jeffrey Helms ties the Kitchen Police streamer onto one of the competing team’s guidon.
Damiani Cansler, a family member of one of the YCA cadets, rappels down the 40-foot tower located on the YCA campus.
Cadets and their family members take a break from the competition to dance the electric slide.