Freestate Challenge Academy
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
"Dream. Believe. Achieve."
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
1993
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Maryland
The Verdict
Founded in 1993 as one of the original 10 National Guard Youth Challenge Programs in the nation, Freestate Challenge Academy has graduated more than 4,000 cadets who arrived as high school dropouts and left with GEDs, job skills, and a second chance at life.
Located on secure Aberdeen Proving Ground—a gated military installation—parents appreciate the distraction-free, safe environment far from negative influences. The academy combines military-style discipline with intensive academics in a completely tuition-free 22-week residential program. The motto "Dream. Believe. Achieve." captures the transformative mission.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
The Freestate Challenge Academy is a voluntary, quasi-military program that provides at-risk youth with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline needed to succeed as productive citizens. The tuition-free program offers a 22-week residential military-style program for adolescents to change their future for the better.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
open
Key Requirements
- Must be 15 years 7 months to 18 years old at entry
- Must have withdrawn from high school, home school, or other GED program
- No felony convictions or pending court actions
- Not on probation or parole
- Voluntary enrollment with willingness to comply with program rules
- Drug-free upon registration (mandatory screening within first 40 days)
- Complete physical examination by licensed physician
- All Maryland school immunizations current (including Hepatitis B, Meningococcal, Varicella)
- Parent/guardian and applicant must attend information session together (if under 18)
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Annual Enrollment
25
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Highly structured quasi-military environment with lights out at 9 PM and 5:30 AM wake-up call for physical training. Every minute of every day is accounted for. Cadets march as a platoon to classes, meals, and all functions. The first two weeks serve as acclimation to the basic structure and discipline, culminating in a Crossover Ceremony where candidates officially become cadets. Cell phones, social media, and internet access are prohibited. Cadets demonstrating good behavior earn points redeemable for home visits.
Discipline Model
Quasi-military discipline model with continuous cadre supervision. The program emphasizes structure, accountability, and personal responsibility. Cadets who test positive for drugs are terminated. The environment is described as 'Tough, Demanding, No-Nonsense, Structure, Discipline, Accomplishment.' Discipline is enforced through the cadre chain of command with a focus on teaching self-discipline and life skills rather than punishment.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
Varies by class - graduates pursue college, trade schools, military enlistment, or employment
Post-Program Pathways
Cadets receive ASVAB preparation for military enlistment pathways
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Daily physical training (PT) at 5:30 AM is mandatory for all cadets. The fitness program is based on the President's Challenge physical fitness standards. Group PT builds camaraderie and esprit de corps among cadets while improving fitness levels. Cadets work toward Presidential Physical Fitness Awards. Physical fitness is one of the 8 core components that must be passed to graduate.
Physical Activities
Facilities
The academy operates on secure Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in the Edgewood Area—a 72,500-acre gated military installation. Parents appreciate the 'gated community' safety of the base location, which eliminates outside distractions and negative influences. Facilities include military installation housing, classrooms, dining facilities, and physical training areas with continuous cadre supervision.
Note: Youth Challenge programs emphasize physical fitness as one of the Eight Core Components, focusing on building endurance, strength, and healthy habits rather than varsity athletics.
Photo Gallery
Related Schools
Capital Guardian Youth Challenge
Laurel, MD
The Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy (CGYCA) is a life intervention, dropout reintegration, and General Education Development (GED) preparatory program, run by the District of Columbia National Guard in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia.
Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy
Virginia Beach, VA
Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy is a quasi-military alternative education program for at-risk youth, sponsored by the Virginia National Guard. The program focuses on developing academic skills, leadership, and self-discipline in a structured residential environment.
Keystone State Challenge Academy
Annville, PA
KSCA uses a military academy style training model to provide structure and discipline for youth between the ages of 16 and 18 years old. It helps prepare them with skills they will need in adulthood.
Mountaineer Challenge Academy
Kingwood, WV
The Mountaineer Challenge Academy is a residential program operated by the West Virginia National Guard at Camp Dawson. It provides a safe, secure, and structured learning environment for at-risk youth ages 16-18, offering them a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and hands-on career training through a 22-week quasi-military residential program.
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is a National Guard Youth Challenge Program that helps at-risk youth develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life-coping skills.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
To intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 - 18 year old Kentuckians and produce program graduates with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in society.
Guides & Resources
National Guard Youth Challenge Academies: What to Expect
A parent's guide to Youth Challenge programs—free residential programs for at-risk teens ages 16-18 run by the National Guard.
Free Military Schools: Your Complete Guide to No-Tuition Options
Yes, free military schools exist. Public academies, charter schools, service academies, and Youth Challenge programs offer tuition-free military education—each with different requirements and trade-offs.
Military School vs. Therapeutic Boarding: Knowing the Difference
A critical guide for parents of struggling teens. We clarify the stark difference between the discipline-based structure of a military school and the clinical intervention of a therapeutic program.
The Cadet Readiness Checklist: Is Your Child Actually Ready?
Not every child is ready for military school. This honest assessment covers emotional maturity, physical ability, and the traits that determine success or failure.
Summer Programs: Test-Drive Military School Before Committing
Discover military school summer camps and programs that let students experience cadet life before enrolling. A low-risk way to find the right fit.
IEPs and 504 Plans at Military Schools
How do military schools handle learning accommodations? Understand your rights, what to expect, and how to find schools that support students with learning differences.