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Story by Capt. Rob Cooley, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Bluegrass Challenge Academy Director Patrick Yewell shares the ups and downs of the ACA vs BCA Basketball competition, along with a few laughs. (Photo by Capt. Rob Cooley, 133rd Mobile Public Detachment)
FORT KNOX, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe cadets from the Appalachian and Bluegrass ChalleNGe academies met head-to-head June 3, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for a series of friendly competitions.
Dubbed the Youth ChalleNGe Field Day, cadets from the Harlan, Kentucky-based Appalachian Academy (ACA) and Fort Knox-based Bluegrass Academy (BCA) competed in an archery competition and basketball game. The cadets didn’t stop with the sanctioned events, and continued the sportsmanship theme on the softball and soccer fields.
Cadet J. Douglas, a Bluegrass cadet said the day was perfect for the sports and barbecue, but also to compare experiences of the ChalleNGe program with the Appalachian cadets.
Click here for more photos.
“It’s been great talking to the teens from the other academy and hearing about their experiences,” he said. “If found that for the most part, their program is a lot like ours.”
Coaches from both Appalachian Challenge Academy and Bluegrass Challenge Academy passionately lead their cadets from the sidelines. (Photo by Capt. Rob Cooley, 133rd Mobile Public Detachment)
The BCA won the Commandant Cup and Golden Arrow award, which will stay at Fort Knox until the next time the two academies meet.
“Although we walked away the victors in both competitions, it feels like everyone’s a winner today,” Douglas said. “I feel a lot closer to my BCA and ACA family. We had a fun time and got to know more about each other.”
The ChalleNGe program is a 22-week course designed to help at-risk youth complete a curriculum that works toward receipt of a high school diploma, enhances physical fitness and provides the participants leadership and life experience to become contributing members of the society.
Before the events kicked off, Patrick Yewell, BCA director, recognized the attending parents and the significance of the trophies but the spirit of the event.
“Remember, it’s not just about the competition, it’s also about having time to laugh, relax and get together,” he said.
“Enjoy your day,” Yewell said. “You’ve earned it.”
John Bond, aka “Coach Bond” has been a driving not just for the athletes on his team, but for all of the cadets at the Appalachian Challenge Academy in Harlan. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Challenge Academy)
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
HARLAN, Ky. — The Appalachian Challenge Academy has established itself as a force to be reckoned with since opening its doors in Harlan only a couple of years ago. Hundreds of cadets have graduated the 22-week program thus far, some going back to high school with a path toward college or vocational-technical schools, others getting jobs or joining up with the military.
And while the cadets are certainly due credit for their own success, let’s face facts: all the desire and determination in the world is in vain without the proper guidance; it takes teachers and mentors to set the example and point young people in the right direction.
Better known as “Coach Bond,” John Bond brought his skills from decades of teaching in the public schools to teaching and mentoring cadets at the Appalachian Challenge Academy in Harlan. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Challenge Academy)
One such mentor is John Bond, better known in Harlan County as “Coach Bond.” A graduate of the University of Kentucky and English teacher/girls basketball coach from Cumberland High School, Bond couldn’t just go home when it came time to retire. Rather than settle down, he took on a new role as a language arts and history teacher at the ACA.
“The Appalachian Challenge Academy means a lot to this area,” said Bond. “It takes kids that have fallen off the path to success and disappeared, and brings them back into a classroom to build confidence in them. It is all about a second or third chance to succeed.”
In coaching, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. This is the same with teaching. Cadets enter the Academy in the same way, and we have to coach them to prepare them for the GED. Teaching them to try their best and to work hard toward a goal also helps prepare them for life after the Academy.
First, they have to want the help. That is the most important thing, that they are willing to accept the help we can offer. Second, they have to have aspirations, to want better things in life. Sometimes they do not develop these goals until we get a hold of them. Third, they have to accept that in life everything does not always work out like you plan and things change so they have to be able to adapt.
Better known as “Coach Bond,” John Bond brought his skills from decades of teaching in the public schools to teaching and mentoring cadets at the Appalachian Challenge Academy in Harlan. (Photo courtesy Appalachian Challenge Academy)
The biggest boundary is raising cadet confidence levels, and getting them to buy into hard work to understand that they are the ones who have to help themselves,” said Bond. “You can teach anyone if they have the right attitude.”
Bond cites the example of a cadet who came to the academy unused to working hard. “He thought he didn’t have to put forth an effort to get an education. He was well mannered, courteous, and always willing to help but needed focus. We finally got him settled and on the right track. He recently called to inform us that he completed his high school equivalency test and plans to attend college for welding and computer science. That is a huge success to me that he did not give up after graduating from the Academy. I expect him to continue his growth and become a successful adult.”
Bond’s reputation with the academy staff is a measurement of his success.
“Coach Bond has a passion about him that catches the young men and women’s attention, especially when he teaches or coaches,” said Master Sgt. Tonia Henry. “He pulls out each person’s special trait and helps them to develop it. He never gives up or quits on a person, and he does not allow you to give up or quit on yourself.”
“Coach Bond has a big and caring heart for the cadets here at the academy,” said 1st Sgt. Lee. “He told me he wished he could help all of the cadets get a good start in life by helping them get on the right path. He is always trying to encourage our cadets to do their best.”
Ryan French, ACA Instructor had high praise for this coach turned teacher. “Coach Bond is a man that despite his infancy in Youth Challenge, is a wealth of knowledge to all that graces his presence. From his professional insight to his vast wisdom on everyday life matters, Coach Bond is an motivation to every cadet and colleague that he is around.”
Kentucky Youth ChalleNGe is designed to help youth, ages 16-18, get a jump start on life. The 22-week credit recovery program is geared toward completing a high school diploma as well as physical fitness, leadership and community awareness projects. The program has been around for nearly 20 years. More than 100,000 cadets have graduated from the program nation-wide.
For more information on Appalachian Challenge Academy contact Josh Coldiron, 606-574-0303 or 855-596-4927 or email joshua.m.coldiron.nfg@mail.mil or brittany.t.blair.nfg@mail.mil
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Do you know a young person that wants to go to college or vocational school but can’t? Maybe they’re having trouble at school or just fitting in? As the old saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The Kentucky National Guard Youth Challenge Program offers scholarship opportunities for both college and vocational technical schools. Cadets from both the Bluegrass Challenge Academy at Fort Knox and the Appalachian Challenge Academy in Harlan have gone on to attend more than two dozen institutions, including Eastern Kentucky University, ITT Tech, Louisville Tech, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology.
Sponsors include BAE Systems, Dennis Elsey Memorial, FLW Outdoors, Fund-A-Future, I-High, Merrill Lynch, Wal-Mart and the National Guard Youth Challenge Foundation.
“Kentucky’s Youth Challenge program presents some wonderful opportunities for young people who are having trouble getting started in life,” said Maj. Jake McKinney, Education Officer for the Kentucky National Guard. “We’ve developed some great partnerships with organizations who believe in today’s youth and are committed to making a difference in their lives.”
The Challenge Program itself is the equivalent to an $18,000 scholarship, said McKinney.
“We are basically paying young people to help themselves,” he said.
Jointly funded between the federal government and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and sponsored by the Kentucky National Guard, Youth ChalleNGe is designed to help youth, ages 16-18, get a jump start on life.
The 22-week credit recovery program is geared toward completing a high school diploma as well as physical fitness, leadership and community awareness projects. The program has been around for nearly 20 years. More than 100,000 cadets have graduated from the program nation-wide.
Basic qualifications for admission include:
- Applicants must be between the ages of 16-18 on class start date (Jan 2015)
- Free of illegal drugs
- A high school student failing to progress toward completion or a high school dropout who has not received a secondary school diploma, GED certificate, or equivalent from another program
- Mentally and physically capable to participate
- Not under indictment or convicted of a felony offense
- The program is 100% free for qualified applicants. Spring classes begin January 11, 2015.
There are currently two Youth Challenge academies in Kentucky — the Bluegrass Challenge Academy is located at Fort Knox while Harlan is home to the Appalachian Challenge Academy.
For more information visit kyyouthchallenge.org
You can also call:
- Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy: Josh Coldiron - 502-607-5951
- Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy: Patrick Yewell - 502-607-5901
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) congratulates Mr. Joseph Lockhart, a graduate of the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan, Ky. for being selected as the November Cadet of the Month. Mr. Lockhart will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from BAE Systems, generous supporters of NGYF and the ChalleNGe Program.
“At the National Guard Youth Foundation, we are proud to support outstanding graduates of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy and help them as they take their next steps in life through scholarships, internships and job opportunities,” said Louis A. Cabrera, President of the National Guard Youth Foundation.
“Mr. Lockhart was selected as the recipient of our November Cadet of the Month scholarship because his character and determination stood out among the thousands of cadets who’ve graduated from the 35 ChalleNGe sites over the past year. We are very proud of Mr. Lockhart and wish him the best of luck as he continues his path of success.”
Read Mr. Lockhart’s ChalleNGe story here:
Like a lot of teenagers, I grew tired of school and quit attending. I wasn’t really a bad or troubled kid. I have good parents who work and I have a nice home life; I just got behind in school and gave up.
The ChalleNGe academy offered a small classroom environment where they could work with cadets one-on-one and give extra help. When we had trouble with certain areas they provided help, including tutoring during the evenings after class.
During ChalleNGe, they scheduled a visit to Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC). During the tour, we viewed the different vocations offered, got a chance to visit with and question SKCTC staff, took the COMPASS test and applied for financial aid. This experience was a tremendous boost in helping me decide what career I wanted to pursue and had I not gone on the visit I may have never thought about attending college.
The Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe academies are currently recruiting for a January 12, 2014 deadline.
To find out more about the Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy at Fort Knox call 1-877-599-6884 or email dorothy.m.heffelfinger.nfg@mail.mil
To find out more about the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan call 1-855-596-4927 or email melinda.f.dillman.nfg@mail.mil
Story and photos by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Pvt. Darrick White is flanked by two of the Kentucky National Guard’s top mentors, State Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Armstrong and State Command Chief Warrant Officer Jimmy Simms. An honor graduate from the Guard’s Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy, White went on to become honor graduate during his basic training and AIT classes. (Kentucky National Guard photo by David Altom)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Pvt. Darrick White is a man with a purpose. A high school dropout with issues at home, he was determined to do something to get out of the rut and make a difference in his life. He got word of the Kentucky National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program and decided that might just be the ticket.
“I heard about the Youth ChalleNGe program and saw that as a way of getting my life going,” said White. “It turned out that I really enjoyed it. I learned so much there. I can tell you for sure that it definitely helps get you straight and set you up for what comes later in life.”
White loved the experience so much that at the end of his 22 weeks at the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan he was selected the honor graduate.
His next step? Join the National Guard, of course.
“I wanted to do something to serve and this seemed the best route for me,” he said. “I really like it a lot!”
White joined up last January and went to basic and advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Ok. where he was once again ranked as his class honor graduate.
State Command Sgt. Maj. Greg Armstrong looks on as Pvt. Darrick White receives a command coin from State Command Chief Warrant Officer Jimmy Simms. (Kentucky National Guard photo by David Altom)
“What you’ve done is a significant accomplishment,” said State Command Sgt. Maj. Armstrong told white during a recent visit with senior Guard leaders at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort.
“By taking the initiative the way he has, this young man has done something that not many people could achieve,” said Armstrong. “It speaks to his courage and his determination to do something positive with his life. That, to me, is very impressive.”
White also received a coin from State Command Chief Warrant Officer Jimmy Simms, the ranking member of the Kentucky National Guard’s warrant officer corps. Simms encouraged White to keep up the good work and stay on course.
“We definitely need people like this in the Guard,” Simms said. “To come so far in such a short amount of time, and on your own initiative, that’s awesome! I know for sure I can use more like him in the warrant officer corps.”
White is currently assigned to Detachment 1, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 149th Infantry where he serves as a forward observer.
Photos by Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
SPARTA, Ky. — A small group of Challenge Academy cadets were honored during the NASCAR race weekend at Kentucky Speedway, June 28-30, 2013. Their attendance was due in part to the growing relationship between Hendrick Motorsports and the National Guard Youth Foundation. None of them had ever been to a race of this scale before. Regardless of whether each was a Jeff Gordon fan or a Kasey Kahne fan, they all were in awe of the 88 Chevrolet adorned with the logo of the Youth Foundation. From the moment Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the green flag on Sunday, their excitement did not falter through each and every left hand turn.
Dallas Voge, a graduate of Bluegrass Challenge Academy checks for guidance in leading the color guard prior to presenting the colors for the pre-race festivities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Maxx Gay, a cadet with North Carolina’s Tarheel Challenge Academy and Sarah Heck, a graduate of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Challenge Academy took photos with Kaley Caperton, singer/songwriter and national spokesperson for the National Guard Youth Foundation, in front of an American Flag display featured in Caperton’s music video, Red, White and Beautiful. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Click here to see Kaley’s music video on CMT.com.
Appalachian Challenge Academy graduate, Rome Meade, (right) said meeting Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a highlight of the great weekend. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Sarah Heck, (left), a graduate of Bluegrass Challenge Academy was glad to share her Challenge story with two U.S. Senators, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky and Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht)
Challenge Academy graduates, Sparky Edwards (left) and Cole Davis took a peak inside the 88 Chevrolet during a garage tour on Saturday. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Rome Meade participated in a press conference on Friday with Earnhardt Jr., Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini and Gail Dady, President of the Borad of Directors for the Youth Foundation. Meade had no idea he would be the face of the Challenge program on this day. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht)
Dallas Voge from the Bluegrass Challenge Academy snapped a few quick photo on pit road prior to the race on Sunday. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
It’s not everyday, you can just take a stroll down pit road between race cars on race day. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
After strolling down pit road, it was time for business and marching the colors to the start/finish line for the National Anthem. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
The cadets last stop on their exciting weekend was high above the track in their seats in a suite provided by the Youth Foundation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
To see all the photos from the weekend, click here.
To learn more about the National Guard Youth Foundation, visit their website, www.ngyf.org.
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
(Left to right) Sarah Heck, graduate of Bluegrass Challenge Academy, Rome Meade, graduate of Appalachian Challenge Academy, Cole Davis, graduate of Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy, Dallas Voge, cadet at Bluegrass Challenge Academy, Jeremy Suhor, cadet at Louisiana Youth Challenge Program, tour Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, N.C., June 10, 2013. The tour was in conjunction with the company’s support of the National Guard Youth Foundation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
CONCORD, N.C. — Since 2007, Hendrick Motorsports has been a fan of the National Guard Youth Foundation. 2013 marks a new step in the relationship as the National Guard Youth Foundation logo will adorn Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car for the NASCAR Quaker State 400 race at Kentucky Speedway, June 29. The move is also benefitting the cadets of the academies nationwide, as millions of fans will take notice of the new paint scheme, placing the foundation in the spotlight.
For six Challenge Academy cadets, the first benefit was a VIP tour of Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, N.C., June 10. Located just outside Charlotte, N.C., the vast complex is fitting for one of the most successful race teams in NASCAR. And there wasn’t much the cadets didn’t get to see.
“I can’t believe there are so many cars,” said Jeremy Suhor, a cadet at the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program who also said his future plans include anything with wheels and a motor. “The tour was crazy. I saw a lot of machines I’ve never seen before, and I didn’t know what they did.”
To see more photos from the cadets’ tour, click here.
Cadets and faculty of National Guard Youth Challenge programs tour Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, N.C., June 10, 2013. Each cadet said the behind the scenes tour was an interesting look inside the world of NASCAR. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Of the six cadets, three are current and recent graduates of the Kentucky Challenge academies. Rome Meade is from Harlan, Ky., and a graduate of the Appalachian Challenge Academy and a big Kasey Kahne fan. Kahne drives the number 5 car for Hendrick, so Meade was excited to get up and close to the cars of his favorite driver.
“Today was awesome,” said Meade. ” I don’t think I have a favorite part, it was all great, but I really liked the museum of cars.”
Hendrick’s personal collection of old vehicles at the complex is a fine museum for any admirer of cars in general, but the one the cadets are most excited about is the one Earnhardt will drive at Kentucky.
“I can’t wait to see the logo on the car, what he’s representing, for us,” said Meade. “It’s not just something that known by some people now, it’s going to be known by many more people after that.”
Sarah Heck is from Breckinridge County, Ky.,and graduated from Bluegrass Challenge Academy at Fort Knox. She said she is excited for the race in Kentucky and thinks that it will be a lot of fun. Heck is thankful for the program for the opportunities it has given her and is glad to see more kids getting that chance.
“I really enjoyed coming down here, it was nice to get away,” she said. “It’s great to see and meet cadets from other states and share their motivation for the program.”
Rome Meade, a recent graduate of Kentucky’s Appalachian Challenge Academy enjoys his time in the spotlight during an interview with Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, N.C., June 10, 2013. The interviews will be shown during the week leading up to the NASCAR race at Kentucky Speedway, June 29. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
The group toured the body shop and frame shop, where the racecars are built. They saw where Hendrick employees fabricate the engines in house. The highlights of the tour then turned to studio lights as each cadet took their turn doing interviews for future commercials. Hendrick Motorsports plans on showcasing each cadet’s segment leading up to the race at Kentucky.
Ashley Saunders, Communications Director for the National Guard Youth Foundation helped organize the trip, but said it was Rick Hendrick’s idea to put the logo on the car, bring the cadets down for the tour and treat them to the race later in the month. She believes more attention should be paid to the high school drop out rates in the country and to the programs that are out there trying to make a difference.
“We are really excited about the chance to have such a monumental opportunity to raise awareness of the Challenge program and the impact it is having on the lives of thousands of young men and women each year,” she said.
“We like to call the Challenge program, the best kept secret in the National Guard. And to have Dale Jr., Mr. Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports team in partnership with us to support our efforts to make sure they continue on the right path to success, it means a lot to us.”
For more information on the National Guard Youth Foundation and the Challenge academies, click here.
Announcement from the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Foundation
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has teamed up with the National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) to propel attention to the nation’s alarming high school dropout rate and to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program.
Alexandria, Va. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. has teamed up with the National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) to propel attention to the nation’s alarming high school dropout rate and to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program as a proven pathway back to graduation and road to continued success. Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet SS will highlight NGYF at the June 29 Quaker State 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, where ChalleNGe graduates will be special guests. The graduates also will be featured in a new public service announcement along with Earnhardt Jr.
“We’re honored to be involved with the National Guard Youth Foundation and help raise awareness of the problem of high school dropouts in our country,” said Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports. “These are great kids, but they’ve fallen off the radar for any number of reasons. We have to give them the full attention they need and deserve. I’ve seen how the National Guard Youth Foundation and ChalleNGe do that and get them back on track, which is life-changing and so critical.”
“What Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the National Guard Youth Foundation are doing on behalf of these kids is amazing,” stated Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, adjutant general of Kentucky and member of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program General Officer Advisory Council (GOAC) Board. “The Youth ChalleNGe program needs help garnering awareness to ultimately help more of our troubled youth…and events like this are just the ticket.”
Nearly 25 percent of U.S. students drop out of high school. Helping more than 115,000 teens to date turn their lives around, ChalleNGe – a 17-month education and workforce development program that culminates in high school graduation or attainment of a GED – is recognized as among the most cost-effective, highly rated programs of its kind for at-risk youth.
- An independent, multi-year study of the program by MRDC shows that high school diploma/GED attainment increase 29 percent, college attendance by 86 percent and annual earnings by 20 percent.
- An independent cost-benefit analysis by the RAND Corporation shows a 166 percent return on investment in the program – every dollar spent yielding a return of $2.66 in benefits to society.
“The National Guard Youth Foundation believes that every high school youth at risk of being lost or forgotten deserves a second chance,” said Gail Dady, president of the National Guard Youth Foundation Board of Directors. “Dropping out of high school creates a potentially devastating domino effect on the kids themselves, their families, communities and, ultimately, our nation. We are grateful for the support of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports for helping us raise awareness of ChalleNGe and the positive impact the program is having on the lives of youth in need.”
About the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a 17-month voluntary program serving 16- to 18-year-olds who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of school. The program – which includes a 5.5-month residential phase and 12-month mentoring phase – provides education, skills and guidance to help instill a sense of self-esteem, integrity and character to disadvantaged youth who might otherwise be left behind by society. There are 34 program sites in 27 states and Puerto Rico. Since its inception in 1993, more than 115,000 students have graduated from the program.
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Click here for more photos and info on the Kentucky National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Appalachian Challenge Academy cadets during a visit to the state capitol building in Frankfort. (Photo by Will Daniels, Appalachian Challenge Academy)
HARLAN, Ky. — Harlan native Josh Coldiron has been named the director of the Kentucky National Guard’s Appalachian Challenge Academy.
“I am honored to be a part of the Appalachian Challenge Academy,” said Josh Coldiron, the new director of Appalachia Challenge Academy. “We will continue to work hard to provide this incredible opportunity for the youth of our region.” (Photo by Will Daniels, Appalachian Challenge Academy)
Sponsored by the Kentucky National Guard and administered by the Department of Military Affairs, the Appalachian Challenge Academy’s mission is to train and mentor selected at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18, and to help them become contributing members of society. Over the course of the 22 week residential phase cadets work daily towards earning a GED or earning credits to return and rejoin their high school class. They also complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service, and take part in many local events.
“I am honored to be a part of the Appalachian Challenge Academy,” said Coldiron. “Our program’s mission is to train and mentor selected youth to become contributing members of society. We will continue to work hard to provide this incredible opportunity for the youth of our region.”
There are currently 68 cadets currently enrolled in the Harlan program. A second academy with 91 cadets is located at Fort Knox. The program is more than 15 years old and has seen 2,274 graduates pass through its doors.
Cadets at the Appalachian Challenge Academy take part in a flag ceremony in Harlan. (photo by Capt. Stephen Martin, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
“Josh has shown himself to be the right person at the right time for the right job,” said Major General Edward W. Tonini, Adjutant General for Kentucky. “Since coming on staff he’s shown that he’s got the energy, creativity, dedication and experience needed to run this very important program. I look forward to seeing what the future brings the Appalachian Challenge Academy under his guidance.”
Coldiron began his career with the Department of Military Affairs on October 16, 2011 as the assistant director of the Appalachian Challenge Academy where he provided administrative support services to the director and technical management assistance to organizational units within the division.
Coldiron is a graduate of Harlan High School and Eastern Kentucky University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History. Coldiron began his career with Kentucky State Government on February 1, 2002 with the Department of Corrections as a Probation & Parole Officer. During his time there he maintained an average caseload of 160 clients; served as Class D Coordinator for Harlan County Detention Center; he monitored court-ordered financial obligations; composed Pre-sentence Investigations and Supervision reports; and he provided testimony in Circuit Court Hearings and Parole Revocation Hearings.
The current classes are scheduled to graduate in June. Recruiting for the next semester is now under way.
For more information on the Kentucky National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program and how to enroll, call 1-855-KY-NGYCP (1-855-596-4927).
