As members of Class 56 at the Wisconsin Challenge Academy prepared for life after graduation, they received an opportunity May 8 to practice one of the most important skills they will need as they enter the workforce — interviewing for a job.
The Wisconsin Challenge Academy hosted mock job interviews for its cadets at the academy on Fort McCoy, giving participants an opportunity to sit across from interviewers, answer questions, discuss their skills and experiences, and become more comfortable with the employment interview process.
Command Sgt. Maj. James Riddle, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort McCoy command sergeant major, participated in the effort and emphasized the importance of helping cadets prepare for their next step.
“We’re here at the Challenge Academy today conducting mock interviews with cadets as they prepare to go out into the job market,” Riddle said.
The May 8 interviews represented the culmination of several steps cadets had already taken to prepare for employment. Riddle said the cadets had worked through the job-application process, developed references, built resumes and written letters to prospective companies.
“So this is kind of the final step in preparing them for jobs,” Riddle said. “We’ll do mock interviews with them today.”
The interviews also provided cadets with an opportunity to experience something many had never encountered before.
“Some of them have never gone through even a mock interview,” Riddle said.
That meant interviewers encountered a wide range of personalities and experiences. Some cadets readily engaged in conversation, while others needed additional questions and encouragement to become comfortable speaking about themselves.
Riddle said that was an important part of the exercise.
“It’s all about making them feel comfortable for the interview process,” he said. “Hopefully they leave here ready to go out into the job market, execute a great interview, and get successful.”
The effort directly supports the Wisconsin Challenge Academy’s mission of preparing young people with the skills, education, values and self-discipline needed to succeed as adults. Founded in 1998 and located at Fort McCoy, the academy is a 22-week residential alternative education program for Wisconsin students who are behind in high-school credits.
Employment preparation is a formal part of the academy’s program. Its curriculum includes a Job Skills component, and the academy specifically identifies completing a mock job interview as one of the activities cadets undertake as they prepare for future employment and educational opportunities.
For Fort McCoy, the effort also demonstrates how the garrison supports the academy and its cadets beyond simply providing a location for the program.
Cadets live and train on Fort McCoy during their residential phase, becoming part of the installation community while working toward their educational and personal goals. The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs reported that Class 56 trained at Fort McCoy for approximately five months before its June 10 graduation. The class included 91 graduates.
Riddle said mentorship is another important element of helping cadets recognize what they can accomplish.
“What I share with a lot of the cadets is that I came from where they are now,” Riddle said. “Whatever brought them here to the Challenge Academy, I most likely experienced it in my life when I was a teenager.”
That personal connection allows Riddle and other mentors and supporters to demonstrate that a difficult starting point does not have to determine a young person’s future.
“Being able to provide the mentorship, and many folks do mentor these people, but it’s just great for them to see what is in the realm of possible from where they’re currently at,” Riddle said.
The academy’s formal mentoring program continues beyond graduation. Cadets are matched with adult mentors who serve as friends, supporters and role models, helping reinforce the skills developed during the residential phase and assisting graduates as they pursue employment, education, military service or other goals.
The mock interviews therefore served as more than a practice exercise. They gave Class 56 cadets an opportunity to test their preparation in a realistic setting, receive encouragement and feedback, and build confidence before facing actual employers.
For Fort McCoy Garrison, Riddle’s participation represented a direct investment in the young people who live and train on the installation.
The effort reflects the broader relationship between Fort McCoy and the Wisconsin Challenge Academy — a partnership that helps provide cadets with opportunities to develop the skills and confidence needed to take their next steps after leaving the installation.
Class 56 went on to graduate June 10, with 91 cadets completing the academy’s pre-challenge and residential phases.
Fort McCoy has supported America’s armed forces since 1909. Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.
The post’s varied terrain, state-of-the-art ranges, new as well as renovated facilities, and extensive support infrastructure combine to provide military personnel with an environment in which to develop and sustain the skills necessary for mission success.
The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984. Learn more about Fort McCoy online athttps://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on DVIDS by visitinghttps://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO.
Also try downloading the My Army Post app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base. Fort McCoy is also part of Army’s Installation Management Command where “We Are The Army’s Home.”
| Date Taken: |
08.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
08.12.2026 17:31 |
| Story ID: |
572269 |
| Location: |
FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
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This work, Fort McCoy Garrison supports Wisconsin Challenge Academy Class 56 cadets through mock interviews, by Scott Sturkol, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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