Diplomas are stacked and ready to be handed out to graduates during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The Texas ChalleNGe Academy is a youth challenge More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East cadets stand in formation June 13, 2016, in Eagle Lake, Texas. Forty-nine TCA cadets graduted from the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program June 18, 2016, More
Cadets wait to march out before graduating from the Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East June 18, 2016, in Altair, Texas. The graduates finished the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program with s More
Michael Weir, Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West program director, addresses TCA-W graduates and guests during the 2015-2 graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternat More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West candidates wait to be bussed to the Sheffield, Texas, campus during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in-processing at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, July 16, 2016. TCA is a Department of D More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates attend a life skills class at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 18, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guard's Joint Counte More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates receive their uniforms during acclimation graduation at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 29, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas Nat More
Members of the 1st Armored Division’s 127th Aviation Support Battalion en route to Joint Base San Antonio stand together at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy, where they were provided with food and lodging when last More
Staff Sgt. Ismar Calderon of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force prepares cadets for a drill and ceremony competition at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staf More
Sgt. Matthew Harrison monitors the morning accountability formation during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has su More
Program Coordinator Christopher Revilla introduces the staff of the Texas Challenge Academy during a graduation ceremony at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The academy is a youth challenge pr More
Cadets pose for a picture before graduating from the Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East June 18, 2016, in Altair, Texas. The graduates finished the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program with More
Cadet Corps Commander David Luna Colon, a Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West graduation, delivers the class speech during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phas More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West team leader guides a candidate before leaving to the campus in Sheffield, Texas, during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in-processing at Camp Mabry in Austin, July 16, 2016. TCA is a More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidate gets a haircut at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 18, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guard's Joint Counterdrug Taskf More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates participate in a drill and ceremony competition during acclimation graduation at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 29, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense prog More
Spc. Ashlyn Powell explaining Army drill and ceremony during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Te More
Graduates listen to Commencement Speaker Col. Suzanne Adkinson, commander of the Texas Military Forces' Joint Counterdrug Task Force, during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan More
Commandant Gonzalo Rocha awards a cadet during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East graduation June 18, 2016, in Altair, Texas. The 49 TCA graduates finished the 22-week residential phase of the alternative educati More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadets wait to be seated during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program, 30 cadets earne More
Michael Weir, Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West program director, speaks to parents during the TCA-W in-processing at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, July 16, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Te More
1st Sgt. Celsa Reyes of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force mentors a cadet at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took precautions and measur More
Sgt. Matthew Harrison inspecting drill and ceremony movements during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supporte More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadet earns an award for being one of the top graduates during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative e More
Staff Sgt. Chandler Ruiz of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force plays basketball with cadets at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took preca More
Master Sgt. Vanessa Renaker mentors a candidate during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Texas Ch More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East cadet works on schoolwork during math lab June 13, 2016, in Eagle Lake, Texas. Forty-nine TCA cadets graduted from the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education progr More
State Rep. Dan Huberty presents a cadet with his diploma cover during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East graduation June 18, 2016, in Altair, Texas. The 49 TCA graduates finished the 22-week residential phase of More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadets during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program, 30 cadets earned a GED, two earne More
1st Sgt. Celsa Reyes of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force runs with a cadet at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took precautions and meas More
Staff Sgt. Calderon discusses teamwork strategy for physical training event during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Forc More
Students are recognized for excellence in physical fitness training during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The academy is a youth challenge program, More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadets wait to be marched out for their graduation ceremony during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West candidate waits to be bussed to the Sheffield, Texas, campus during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in-processing at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, July 16, 2016. TCA is a Department of More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates stand in formation at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 18, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guard's Joint Counterdrug Ta More
Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force members and Texas ChalleNGe Academy staff and cadets salute the flag at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students to More
Sgt. Jason Pope mentors a candidate during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Texas ChalleNGe Acad More
Col. Suzanne Adkinson, Texas Joint Counterdrug Taskforce commander, presents a coin to a Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadet for earning the title top graduate during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, i More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates relax after participating in a drill and ceremony competition during acclimation graduation at the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 29, 2016. TCA is a Department o More
Sgt. Jason Pope inspects drill and ceremony movements during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Te More
The Class of 2013 stands for recognition during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The academy is a youth challenge program, sponsored by the Texas Mili More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East cadets work on schoolwork during math lab June 13, 2016, in Eagle Lake, Texas. Forty-nine TCA cadets graduted from the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program More
Col. Suzanne Adkinson, Texas Joint Counterdrug Taskforce commander, delivers the keynote address to Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadets during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After t More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West team leader from the Sheffield, Texas, campus checks in a candidate during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in-processing at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, July 16, 2016. TCA is a Depart More
Technical Sgt. Andrew Ferguson of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force teaches cadets the folding of the flag at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and stu More
"I am just one of 89 success stories here at TCA" said class speaker, Christopher Parkey during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The academy is a yout More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidate performs an exercise July 17, 2016, at Rice High School, while waiting to in process for the program that's housed in Eagle Lake. TCA is a Department of Defense program More
Pfc. Luis Lopez of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force instructs cadets on drill and ceremony at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took prec More
Sgt. Jason Pope conducts push-ups with a candidate during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Texas More
Commencement Speaker Col. Suzzanne Adkinson, commander of the Texas Military Forces' Joint Counterdrug Task Force, applauds the Class of 2013 during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadet gives the invocation during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program, 30 cadets e More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates wait to be bussed to the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 17, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guard's Joint Counterdrug Tas More
Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Mendoza-Rojas of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force instructs staff on proper drill and ceremony at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, st More
Class Corps Commander Joshua Tilley receives an award during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan, Texas, June 22, 2013. The academy is a youth challenge program, sponsored by More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadets sit during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program, 30 cadets earned a GED, two e More
Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East candidates wait to be in process at Rice High School for the TCA-E campus in Eagle Lake, Texas, July 17, 2016. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guar More
Staff Sgt. Albert Perez helps a candidate with his uniform during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported t More
Commencement Speaker Col. Suzzanne Adkinson, commander of the Texas Military Forces' Joint Counterdrug Task Force, hands out diplomas during the Texas Challenge Academy Graduation at Iraan High School, in Iraan More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-West cadet is recognized during the 2015-2 class graduation June 25, 2016, in Iraan, Texas. After the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program, 30 cadets earned a More
A Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East team leader from the Eagle Lake, Texas, campus checks in a candidate during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in-processing at Rice High School in Altair, Texas, July 17, 2016. TCA is a More
Cadets write thank you letters to Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force members and staff at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took precautions an More
Staff Sgt. Albert Perez mentors a candidate during the acclimation phase at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force has supported the Texas Challe More
Cadets pose during the Texas ChalleNGe Academy-East banquet June 16, 2016, at Rice Junior High School in Altair, Texas. Gonzalez is one of 49 TCA cadets who graduted from the 22-week residential phase of the al More