DVIDS – News – Photo Story: Wisconsin Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy

Wisconsin Challenge Academy cadets participate in training on the barracks grounds at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, on August 7 and 12, 2024.

They belong to class 53 of the academy.

Challenge Academy, a Fort McCoy tenant organization, offers youth the opportunity to change their lives and develop the character strength and life skills necessary to become successful, responsible citizens.

The program begins with a 5 1/2 month residential phase, followed by a one year post-residential phase.

According to its website https://challengeacademy.org, the academy was founded in 1988.

“The Wisconsin Challenge Academy is an alternative education program designed to improve the lives of at-risk youth and equip graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline they need to succeed as adults,” the website states. “The academy is part of the (Wisconsin) National Guard Youth Challenge Program, a community-based program that guides, educates and mentors 16- to 18-year-olds so they can become productive citizens in America’s future.”

Learn more about the Wisconsin Challenge Academy at https://challengeacademy.org.

Fort McCoy’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.”

Located in the heart of the Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army base in Wisconsin.

The facility has provided support and facilities for field and classroom training to more than 100,000 military personnel from all branches of the armed forces nearly every year since 1984.

More information about Fort McCoy can be found online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching for “ftmccoy,” on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on X (formerly Twitter) by searching for “usagmccoy.”

Also, download the “My Army Post” app on your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base. Fort McCoy is also part of the Army’s Installation Management Command, where “We are the Army’s home.”