The parents of D'wight Lucas, an academy cadet, stand
The parents of D'wight Lucas, an academy cadet, stand to be recognized during graduation ceremonies. D'wight was one of two cadets during the ceremony to make commencement speeches, sharing with those in attend... More
The buzz of clippers fills the room as candidates get
The buzz of clippers fills the room as candidates get the same short haircut, one of the first orders of business after arriving at the academy. Some candidates respond to the haircut with nervous laughter, whi... More
A cadet attempts a few minutes of extra sleep during
A cadet attempts a few minutes of extra sleep during time allotted for other activities, which can often be a risky venture that ends with pushups. Cadre members keep a watchful eye to ensure the cadets are eng... More
Cadets from the Maryland National Guard's Freestate
Cadets from the Maryland National Guard's Freestate ChalleNGe Academy march single file into the academy's classroom building to begin the school day. Academics are a key element of Freestate with cadets attend... More
Joshua Griffin and other candidates lay out their belongings
Joshua Griffin and other candidates lay out their belongings during an inspection to ensure candidates have all required items. Cadre members call out items and candidates respond by holding the items up high, ... More
Army Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, left, the adjutant general
Army Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, left, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, congratulates Laneesha Johnson on graduating from the academy. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Darron Salzer)
Master Sgt. Robert Triplett reiterates to academy cadets
Master Sgt. Robert Triplett reiterates to academy cadets the requirements they need to meet for placement into a leadership role within their platoon. Instilling leadership, discipline and the overarching struc... More
D'wight Lucas, a cadet at Freestate ChalleNGe Academy,
D'wight Lucas, a cadet at Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, pulls his bed covers tight as he makes his bed. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Darron Salzer)
Candidates at the academy bury their heads in their
Candidates at the academy bury their heads in their student handbooks as they wait for additional instructions from cadre members. Downtime often means continued studying for candidates at the academy, even bef... More
Cadets at the academy pack up their books and prepare
Cadets at the academy pack up their books and prepare to move to their next class as those appointed squad leader duties gather up papers to turn in. Cadet leadership duties carries over to the classroom as wel... More
Candidates wait in a hallway in the academy building
Candidates wait in a hallway in the academy building to be issued their first uniform item, an academy coat. For many candidates, the uniform is an important first step of their journey at the academy and repre... More
Cpl. Kurt Jones reiterates to cadets that success at
Cpl. Kurt Jones reiterates to cadets that success at Freestate is incumbent on listening, thinking and using their minds, rather than simply reacting. For many cadre members, instilling in cadets constructive ... More
Lynia Ligon, right, an English and writing teacher
Lynia Ligon, right, an English and writing teacher at the academy, reviews work with a cadet after class. In addition to help from teachers, tutoring is also available to cadets from their mentors or volunteers... More
Troy Stouffer, left, and Corchaun Ferrell, complete
Troy Stouffer, left, and Corchaun Ferrell, complete homework in the academy barracks. For some cadets completing homework assignments wasn’t a priority before coming to the academy. At Freestate, the day is str... More
Encouragement and motivation are key as 1st Sgt. Job
Encouragement and motivation are key as 1st Sgt. Job Stringfellow, the academy commandant and head of the cadre, talks with Cadet Jordan Wisdom, a result of Jordan’s recent attitude and actions at Freestate. Th... More
ntensity meets seeming indifference as 1st Sgt. Job
ntensity meets seeming indifference as 1st Sgt. Job Stringfellow, a cadre member at the Maryland National Guard's Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, provides direction to a newly-arrived candidate during in-processin... More
High school diploma in hand, Christopher Ramirez, right,
High school diploma in hand, Christopher Ramirez, right, is all emotions as Cpl. Kurt Jones, an academy cadre member, congratulates and praises him on his accomplishments after academy graduation ceremonies. R... More
Malik Thompson knocks out pushups as Sgt. Drisana Lynch,
Malik Thompson knocks out pushups as Sgt. Drisana Lynch, right, a cadre member at the academy, keeps an eye on cadets while waiting for the start of graduation ceremonies. Graduation day doesn’t mean a reprieve... More
Tyshawn Delaine looks over full bags of dirty laundry
Tyshawn Delaine looks over full bags of dirty laundry as dryers hum in the barracks laundry room. Cadets must perform additional duties throughout their time at the academy. Some duties are simply assigned, whi... More
Ricardo Ballenger balances moving quickly with keeping
Ricardo Ballenger balances moving quickly with keeping hold of his bags as he steps off a bus outside the Freestate Academy building. Cadre members stand nearby, ready to provide additional "encouragement" shou... More
At Freestate, academics often go beyond the classroom.
At Freestate, academics often go beyond the classroom. Education and being prepared are stressed, which for Jabrael Ferguson means reviewing a book on military cadences in preparation for marching his fellow ca... More
Cpl. Kurt Jones, a cadre member at the Maryland National
Cpl. Kurt Jones, a cadre member at the Maryland National Guard's Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, explains the academy's expectations to members of his platoon. The cadre at the academy are the primary guiding forc... More
Christopher Ramirez, left, and D'wight Lucas, both
Christopher Ramirez, left, and D'wight Lucas, both members of the Freestate Academy’s cadet honor guard, participate in honor guard duties during their class’s graduation ceremony. The distinctive uniforms deno... More
Charles Rose, left, director of the Maryland National
Charles Rose, left, director of the Maryland National Guard’s Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, looks on as Ronny Colindres, right, embraces academy staff members as he accepts his diploma during academy graduation ... More
With a steady movement of her whisk, Laneesha Johnson,
With a steady movement of her whisk, Laneesha Johnson, left, a Freestate cadet, mixes batter for muffins during a culinary arts vocational training class at the academy. Cadets can elect to take vocational clas... More
Raymond Colbert quietly laces up his boots as he prepares
Raymond Colbert quietly laces up his boots as he prepares for the day. For cadets, the days are long, often beginning well before the sun is up, and include classes, reviewing work or taking care of assigned du... More
Assigned squad leader duties, Ronny Colindras keeps
Assigned squad leader duties, Ronny Colindras keeps an eye on his squad members during evening roll call in the academy's barracks. As cadets move through the program they can be selected by cadre for leadershi... More
Under the watchful eye of an academy cadre member,
Under the watchful eye of an academy cadre member, pushups and “bear crawls” are the order of the evening for Rickaun Morris, center, and Craig Osborne after the pair failed to follow instructions from cadre me... More
Alexis Head, a cadet at the Freestate Academy, gives
Alexis Head, a cadet at the Freestate Academy, gives a commencement speech as part of graduation ceremonies. Alexis, along with fellow cadet D’Wight Lucas, shared her personal story of triumph and success with ... More
Sgt. Aaron Garrison, left, looks on as Master Sgt.
Sgt. Aaron Garrison, left, looks on as Master Sgt. Robert Triplett reviews the weekly academy schedule and other administrative items with cadre members. Academy cadre are present around the clock, ensuring som... More
Excitement and emotions run high as Laneesha Johnson,
Excitement and emotions run high as Laneesha Johnson, right, shares a celebratory hug with fellow cadet Jada Estep as the two wait behind the scenes for graduation ceremonies to begin. (U.S. Army photo by Staff... More
Josh Barlow, a social studies teacher at Freestate,
Josh Barlow, a social studies teacher at Freestate, goes over the history of the Great Depression during class at the academy. The challenges Freestate teachers face are similar to schools elsewhere — keeping s... More
Christopher Ramirez, an academy cadet, looks over
Christopher Ramirez, an academy cadet, looks over a test booklet during an exam at the academy. Among the first tests cadets take at Freestate is one that assesses their current education level. Near the end o... More