Success Stories

The following stories are typical of the young people that come to the Bluegrass Challenge Academy. Each one had issues and problems they were dealing with and found ways to overcome them at BCA.
If you have a success story you would like to share, please send it to the Academy so that we may include it on our web site.

Corey J. Pugh Class 8
Cadet Altman Class 09 2nd platoon "Bulldogs"
Jonathon Clark Class 12
Allen Tabor Class 9
Bobby Walker Class 12
Frank Nettles Class 8

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May 12, 2005

September 2002 our son, Corey J. Pugh, was on a one way road to NO where. He had not put forth any effort in high school as a student, as a constructive member of our community or his family. We had talked with him till we were blue in the face, but nothing we said made any difference to
him, I told him on several occasions that he wasn't hurting us, his parents, but rather he was only hurting himself. Some where down the road, maybe in 3 years or 25 years, he would realize that he had indeed made waste of some of the most valuable time in his life. But as with most young people we, his parents, were the dumbest 2 people, in his eyes, GOD had ever let walk the face of the Earth.

On the third day of what was to be his senior year of high school, he quit school. I talked with the school personnel, informed them that he had decided that it was in his best interest to apply for and attend the Blue Grass Challenge Academy at Fort Knox, KY. We applied, interviewed with the
staff, and took a tour of the school. Corey was accepted into the school with the understanding that it would not be easy, but very hard. If he applied himself, kept his nose clean he would reap great benefits. One of the staff told Corey that it would be easier for him to stay in and complete high school than complete BCA. But Corey needed the structured (day by day) layout of BCA. He also benefited from the individual, one on one instruction that the cadets are shown. He agreed and started in January 2003.

June 2003 was graduation day at BCA for the cadets that had worked hard. Corey was one of the graduates of class 08 and I must admit that when he walked across the stage that day I cried with joy. A one way road to nowhere had now been turned into an expressway to the rest of his life because of the hard work, individual attention, love, and caring attitudes of the BCA staff. I truly feel that the members of the BCA staff honestly love these young people. It's a tough love, but love none the less.

Corey had always talked about joining the Navy; in April 2003 he enlisted on the delayed enlistment program into the SEAL Challenge program while a cadet at the BCA. I was able to go with him to Louisville as he signed the papers and was sworn in. As of today Corey is a member of the United States Navy stationed in San Diego, CA proudly serving his country. Most important, HE has chosen his road in life only to be limited by himself. He has goals that he will now achieve. With the help and support he continues to get from the staff of BCA, and the confidence he gained by attending and graduating from BCA he will gain greater success in his life.

Thank you to all the people involved with the National Guard Challenge may GOD bless each of you and may HE continue to bless OUR GREAT NATION.

Mikel & Cindy Pugh Back to top

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Hello,

Where shall I begin on this long journey that still hasn't been completely accomplished yet? Maybe I shall start with my problems when I was younger. I was around 13 years old and after watching my sisters grow up disrespecting my parents I guess I didn't see why I couldn't do that my self, not realizing that it was wrong. I was coming in all late hours of the night, friends with people that really weren't my friends. Drinking all the time was a major problem.

I watch my older sisters start to pay for their poor decisions and realized that maybe this path that I was choosing for my life wasn't the best for the situation I would be put under now at the age of 19. I realized that working a job flipping burgers wasn't always fun if at all fun. I was failing in school, fighting all the time, disrespecting the teachers then it happened, a true friend that wasn't out to get me in trouble but was just making the poor dumb decisions that I was making was arrested and is now serving a year in jail with a child he has never seen.

I realized "Hey, I need to wake up or I will be placed under that same situation". Well I was riding the school bus and his brother James was telling me about a program they had offered his brother but his brother turned down, it was called Bluegrass challenge Academy. I took the application home that day filled it out and mailed it off. After about a week I got a phone call from Mr. Cook, a recruiter for the program. God bless him after all the phone calls I gave to him cause god knows it was killing him but he helped me greatly by getting me in.

I showed up to bluegrass not knowing what to expect for the road ahead except for a challenge.... Walking in with a white dress button up shirt and some black dress slacks that had been neatly pressed the night before with brown leather dress shoes and a bag filled with items I needed I walked in to the gym where I saw the cadre. I remember Sgt. McKinney and Sgt. Major screaming at a cadet that was running across the gym with a orange cone for not following the directions that was put out to them. I knew I was in for it.

The first two weeks went by, they were known as the hardest two weeks I would be placed in the six months of being in that program. We were doing push ups all the time, getting yelled at waking up at 4: 45 every morning and I didn't think I could keep that up for 20 more weeks. I kept fighting and the same words the cadre spoke every day rang in my head and still do when a challenge in the U.S. Navy arises "Challenge Me!!!"

At first the words meant nothing because I didn't understand the challenges I was to be put through while I was in, but later I found out that them words met EVERYTHING. I was elected to student council, I was on drill team with Sgt. Shepard. Every afternoon for 2 weeks we were in the hot parking lot getting ready for the competition and my heart was set on getting first place for him and for my fellow cadets. Sgt. Shepard, Sgt. McKinney, Sgt. Major, Sgt. C, Sgt. Leblanc, Sgt Major Disch, were great role models that got me to where I am at now in the U.S. Navy. On that winter day in December when I graduated and I had my GED I was so proud of where I was to where I came to.

I knew that the fight wasn't over but the beginning was just won. After leaving I had a representative from my area of the state named Mr. Satchwell, he kept up with me a year after the program. Making sure I was doing well and working and going toward a goal and I thank him also that I made it.

During that year I started to slightly slip up again until I put my foot down and remember what my cadre said that the same friends you had back at home were always going to be doing the same things and try to bring you back down with them and I told my friends no. I gained the weight back but I lost it all over again working out every day and going to the DEP meetings for the Navy and the words echoed in my head, "Challenge me."

I finally made it to my first day of Naval boot camp. I walked in the huge building waiting for my RDC's, who in the process going to yell at me but I was more confident because I had the great leadership of my cadre and I felt that they were there with me all over again. I fought and had trying times but I made it to Graduation day of boot camp where I watched my family cry as they seen me, not even 2 years before driving my life in the ground to being a Sailor in the Navy.

After boot camp I went to A school where I trained to work on aircraft and came in 2nd in my class and was only off of class leader honor graduate by .03. While in A school I met the best girl I could ever ask for, she has been there with me through it all and supported me through everything. Right now I am currently undergoing C school, a more in depth class on the F 18 fighter and all I can say is Challenge Me!!!

To the future, I have my sights on getting my A and P license to work on civilian aircraft, and I am also looking at my ultimate challenge already, to go to college and look in to getting my pilots license also. It's a long road yet but all I can say from the first day of Bluegrass Challenge is CHALLENGE ME!!! Thank you to the Bluegrass Challenge Academy for getting me here and I will always have you to thank to where ever I go in life. If I become a officer and fly a aircraft or if I am just a mechanic you will always have my support.

Thank you Bluegrass Challenge Academy.

Cadet Altman class 09 2nd platoon "Bulldogs" Back to top

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Henry County Local

Clark Conquers ChalleNGe

By Whitney Prather

Jonathon Clark, 16, recently graduated from the ChalleNGe Academy, a 22-week voluntary program sponsored by the Kentucky National Guard. Clark earned his GED while participating in the program at Fort Knox and will attend college in January.

At only 16, Jonathon Clark is embarking on a path in life that few teens his age are doing - he has his GED, and next January he will be attending college. Clark recently graduated from the Kentucky National Guard Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy.

The ChalleNGe Academy is a 22-week program that trains and mentors 16- to 18-year-old high-risk teens in a structured, quasi-military program. The program helps teens improve their lives by enhancing life skills, building self-discipline and increasing their education level and employment potential. The unique voluntary program aims to challenge troubled teens to excel and overcome the temptations of crime, drugs, alcohol and growing up too fast.

When Clark arrived at the ChalleNGe Academy in January, he was met with two weeks of intensive physical conditioning and classes, followed by more than four months of training in various skills, including carpentry, heating and air conditioning, electrical engineering and plumbing. Clark also served as platoon leader for the first six weeks of the program, and was responsible and held accountable for other participants' behavior.

While in Fort Knox, Clark earned 156 hours of community service, making targets at the TSE Company and cleaning a bowling alley and hospital. The ChalleNGe Academy's community service requirement was designed to give Clark and other participants work experience while in school.

The first six weeks were the hardest, according to both Clark and his mother, Tammy. There were no visits or calls, and heavy emphasis was placed on behavior correction.

"It was a learning experience," Clark said. "Two days and (the discipline) sunk in, rather than when I was in school, it never did."

Though structured, some play did interrupt classes and work. Clark got the opportunity to ride in a C-130 cargo plane and drive a tank in a video simulation. He did, however, turn down the opportunity to ride in a Blackhawk helicopter to attend church - he was saved while there.

"That's probably one of the best things that came from (the program)," Tammy said. Almost as soon as he arrived at Fort Knox, those around him began to notice small changes.

"He began to talk and act different, 'yes ma'am, no ma'am'" Tammy said. "He's a changed man - he's my gentleman I knew he was down deep inside."

As for the newly discharged Clark, he has just gotten his driving permit and after a "two-week leave" granted by his father, David, Clark will begin working with him doing masonry work through the end of the year.

Until then, Clark is thinking about college options. Whether he goes to Jefferson Community College or to a technical school, he is looking forward to pursuing a degree in electrical engineering.

"I'm really proud," Clark said. "While my friends are all still in school, I've already got my GED and am going to college next year."

For more information about the ChalleNGe program, call 502-584-0371.

Cadet Jonathon Clark is a graduate of class 12. Back to top

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HI MY NAME IS ALLEN TABOR, I WAS IN CLASS 9.
I JUST WANTED TO SEND YOU AN EMAIL SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU AND YOUR ACADEMY HAVE DONE FOR ME. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 3 YEARS SINCE I HAVE GRADUATED FROM BCA. YOUR PROGRAM HAS REALLY HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER PERSON.
I AM NOW IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. I AM AN ABE ON BOARD THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. I'VE BEEN STATIONED HERE FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN ON TWO 6 MONTH DEPLOYMENTS TO THE PERSIAN GULF IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR ON TERRORISM. I DON'T EVER REGRET MY DECISION IN SERVING MY COUNTRY. I'VE SEEN MANY THINGS THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE AND I OWE ALL THE THANKS TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE STAFF AT BCA. GOD BLESS YOU GUYS.

SINCERELY ABEAN (AW) TABOR

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Former cadet Bobby Walker stopped by the Academy on July 27 and no one recognized him. He was wearing an Army uniform and we thought he must be one of the soldiers at Fort Knox looking for someone. Bobby graduated from class 12 in June, 2005 and decided to join the Army. He enlisted January 9, 2006, took basic and AIT at Ft. Jackson, he is a wheel mechanic.He is currently on his way to Korea, assigned to the 602nd Aviation Bn.
The amazing thing about Bobby Walker, is that when he arrived at the academy in January of 2005 he weighed over 300 pounds. He has lost over 120 pounds much of it while a cadet at BCA. He weighs in at a lean 200 pounds now all of it solid muscle. When asked if the academy had helped him get where he is now he replied " If I hadn't come to BCA I would still be sitting around doing nothing and getting fatter".

PVT Bobby Walker's story is typical of many of the young people that come to BCA. We at the academy are very proud of Bobby Walker, he has shown that with hard work and dedication you can actually change the direction of your life and future by graduating from Bluegrass Challenge Academy. Back to top

January 2005 July 2006

Hello my name is Frank Nettles and I was a cadet in class 8, the Bulldogs, and I am just writing to check up on all the cadre that helped change my life. I am currently on my second deployment in the navy, about seven and a half months in. I have a little over five years in the navy. After this deployment I will be going back to Pensacola Florida for Naval Air Crewmen School. I have been to more countries than I can count on my fingers and none of this would be possible without everyone at the BCA. I miss all the cadre and nurse Cissell, and would love to hear from everyone. Take care

ABH3 Frank Nettles Back to top

Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy

Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy, Changing the lives of Kentucky's youth. ChalleNGe Me.