Guardsmen get second chance at high school diploma

Courtesy Photo | Louisiana National Guardsman Pvt. Freddie Holliday receives his high school diploma from the National Guard Patriot Academy Commandant Col. Perry W. Sarver during an official ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Sept. 23. Holliday was one of the first Guardsmen from Louisiana to graduate from the Patriot Academy.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

09.23.2010

Story by Spc. Tarell J. Bilbo 

Louisiana National Guard

NEW ORLEANS – Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard were given a second opportunity to receive their high school diploma after graduating from the National Guard Patriot Academy at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., Sept. 23.

Pvts. Freddie Holliday and Jonathan McClellan were the first Louisiana guardsmen to graduate from the military’s only accredited high school.

Retired Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, former director of the Army National Guard, came up with the idea to provide qualified high school age youths the opportunity to earn their high school diplomas as active-duty Soldiers.

Patriot Academy Commandant Col. Perry W. Sarver Jr. said the students are not considered social delinquents or at-risk students. Some students may have quit high school because of illness in the family, hardships or because priorities were in the wrong place, Sarver said.

“This program is about second chances,” Sarver said. “It’s a do-over. You don’t get many of those in life.”

Once students complete the program, they ship to their advanced individual training sites and learn their job skill in the Army National Guard.

Holliday, a Clinton, La., native, is currently training to be a horizontal construction engineer.

McClellan, a native of New Orleans, will start training to be a cannon crew member in November.

“These students are not only getting the opportunity to get a high school diploma, they are getting additional military training and opportunities to give back to the community as well,” Sarver said. “We are preparing soldiers to be well rounded professionally, mentally and physically.”

• Date Taken: 09.23.2010
• Date Posted: 10.21.2010 10:39
• Story ID: 58561
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US