2008 Annual Report - West Virginia Army National Guard - U.S. Army

West Virginia National Guard Annual Report 2008
Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy
Governor Joe Manchin and Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve
Affairs Jennifer Buck participated in the
Alternative Education Program by WV State
School Law is helping build a bridge for at-risk
teens between an unsuccessful public school
experience and a safe, productive second
chance. This cooperative designation
makes it easier for public schools to
“reclaim” students who are attending
and completing the ChalleNGe Program.
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe
Academy is unique. The Academy
focuses on developing the “whole
person”. There is no other program
or school in the state that offers an
educational opportunity with military
structure or a mentoring component.
Ground-breaking Ceremony for the Mountaineer
Challenge Academy Facility
on April 16, 2008. This
facility will consolidate
ChalleNGe activities from
13 to 3 buildings on Camp
Dawson. These buildings will
then return to National Guard
utilization. Completion is
scheduled for 2010.
The Mountaineer
ChalleNGe Academy
received the USO Award
for Physical Training which recognizes the top
program
in physical
training
among
the 32
ChalleNGe
Programs.
The
Mountaineer
ChalleNGe Academy has graduated 1,929
students in 30 classes. Recognition as a Special
Two major organizational
changes occurred. Development of a Recruiting,
Placement and
Mentoring
Department
to focus on
getting eligible
teens into the
program, placed
in productive
activities after
graduation and
matched with
an appropriate
Mentor. Second,
the direct hire of food service staff. The
Academy continues to operate on a $2.8 million
budget – 60 percent federal and 40 percent state
funds. The Academy has 59 employees.
ChalleNGe Academy Graduates
41% Enter the workforce
20% Join the armed forces
16% Attend vocational training
10% Return to high school
10% Go on to college
3% In transition
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