Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Twenty-six North Carolina National Guard Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy, New London Campus,...... read more read more
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Twenty-six North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy (TCA), New London Campus, candidates completed part of their acclimation training at N.C. Department of Public Safety's Samarcand Training Academy (STA) in Jackson Springs, N.C., Oct. 16-17, 2019.
The acclimation training prepared the youth for the rigors of the voluntary 22-week resident quasi-military style TCA program designed to instill self-discipline, give at-risk youth a second chance at continuing their education and improve their life skills.
The day began early for the candidates on this the fourth day of their enrollment as their school bus rolls up the STA obstacle course. The greatest challenge that awaited the candidates was not just the recently constructed towers, climbing walls, beams, and other physical obstacles but the most difficult of all to overcome, building trust.
"Everyone is really pleased with the campus and what we can offer," said STA Deputy Director of Operations William Seawell.
The candidates exited the bus and assembled in formation for the first activity of the day marching through the woods surrounding the obstacle course. This warmed up the candidates and readied them for the strenuous training ahead.
The candidates lined up and waited for the order to start. On order, they ran in pairs at the first obstacle, a climbing wall. The first young woman jumped and scrambled to the top of the wall. The next pair followed and the next.
"It (the STA course) is a great course that creates the opportunity for team building," said Melania Tuli, an instructor with TCA.
Some candidates struggled, others climbed with ease. Then the true goal of the training occurred. Without guidance, several of the candidates ran forward to help their new friends as the rest of the candidates cheered them on.
"Let me help . . . I've got you . . . now I have something to tell mama when I get home," said the candidates among the cheers of their fellows as they passed the obstacle and moved to the next.
"You can't force teamwork, it is peer lead," said Tuli.
The Samarcand Training Academy occupies 430 acres in Moore County and provides correctional basic, in-service, law enforcement basic and law enforcement advanced training since Fall 2015.
The NC National Guard sponsored Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy helps build teamwork, personal growth, and development for at-risk youth who volunteer for the program. Cadets are under no military service obligation after finishing the program but several have enlisted after graduation. Since 1996, TCA has graduated over 5,600 cadets, with the vast majority continuing on the successful path instilled in them from the program in becoming productive citizens.
For more photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncngpao/albums/72157711535913657/with/48974888437/
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2019 09:20 |
| Story ID: | 349508 |
| Location: | JACKSON SPRINGS, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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