ONE OF US: Look in mother's eyes, Guard program helped her turn her life around
By CHARLIE PATTON, Times-Union columnist
Not much can break Felicia Ridgway's composure.
Success Story 10
Success Story 9
Cadet Haylee Class 12
My daughter's story starts just as many other teenagers do. She hated school and hung with the wrong crowd and started doing drugs by the age of 13. I'm a single Mom raising two children. I lost total control of my daughter. No matter what I did she would just do worse; more drugs, skipping school, BOYS and just being very disrespectful. She dropped out of school in her junior year but she only had freshman credits. A friend of my son's at Boy Scouts had a cadet in FLYCA Class 10 and told me about i
Success Story 7
A Success Story for the Silver Screen
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By Lauren Bryar
In November of this past year, news of Clinton DesJarlais' accomplishments traveled from coast to coast.
Over the course of one short week, DesJarlais learned that he would not only get to play on the Navy football team as an honorary "12th Mid" in a game against Temple University, but he would also get to fulfill his dream of becoming an F-18 pilot in the Marines.
Success Story 6
I was a cadet in class 6. I am now 20 years old, I want to thank everyone at the Academy for everything they did for me. When I was 17 I was in the 8th grade and about to be expelled from yet another school, when the school resource officer told me about FLYCA. At first I saw it as a chance to get away from my parents and graduate faster, we were not getting along at the time and when I was told I was going to get expelled I was just going to drop out. When the officer told my parents about it they agreed I needed to go.
Success Story 5
Hi everyone,
Success Story 4
"My son is a graduate from class #4. Words do not easily convey the gratitude my wife and I feel for your program.
Our son was making all the wrong decisions in his life. He was 18 years old and flunking out of high school. He was seriously involved with drugs and becoming more and more violent at home. No matter how hard we tried he was going further from us. We had become "the enemy". I was absolutely certain that he would be dead or in jail within a year.
Success Story 3
"I just have to say, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! For even creating this program, before my son (16 yrs.) joined he was extremely troubled, hanging out with the wrong crowd, smoking, drinking, expelled from school 3 years in a row, took a road trip 2500 miles away in the middle of the night at age 15 (barely) with an 18 yr. old I've never approved of, and finally getting into our judicial system.
Success Story 2
"My daughter is a cadet at Camp Blanding, although it has only been 9 weeks, I have seen a remarkable change in her attitude. Her letters are positive, her self-esteem has been boosted and she has set goals for her future. I am forever grateful, that I was able to find a wonderful program that is there to help guide our loved ones. If it weren't for the FLYCA, I probably would have lost her to 'The Thugs of the Streets.' I Thank Everyone at Camp Blanding for their hard work, dedication and kind hearts for helping my daughter."
Ginger
Success Story 1
"Please let everyone know how much I appreciate the miracle that was performed in my precious son. Before going in he was 'gothic' , dressed in black, had no future, had no self esteem, doing drugs and wasting his life. After only 3 days I got my first letter from him and he was like re-born. I had my son back. Not only did he graduate , but he put forth much effort and goals to be on the color guard of which he also was honor guard. He recieved an award for the most community service hours performed.
