CULLMAN, Ala. – An estimated 150 cadets graduated from Camp Liberty’s Extreme Military Challenge summer programs Saturday morning at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center. The graduates hailed from 34 states and 18 countries. Among the graduates, five were from Alabama:
- Abigail Burnett of Owens Cross Roads, 3rd Platoon
- Zachary Caton of Madison, 3rd Platoon
- Sean Johnson of Chelsea, 1st Platoon
- Katie Parris of Mt. Olive, 2nd Platoon
- Colin Taylor of Birmingham, 2nd Platoon
The graduation featured guest of honor Commissioner Tom Kilgannon of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Kilgannon told the cadets, if they do not pursue a military path, to serve their communities.
He said, “As former President John F. Kennedy once said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you country.’ I want you all to reflect on that.”
According to Camp Liberty, more than 250 young people, ages 13-17 from across the globe, call Camp Liberty in Battleground, Alabama home over the summer as they undergo two to six weeks of military training, ranging from Cadet Basic Training to Cadet Ranger School to Cadet SCUBA School, all based on U.S. Army standards.
The “Challengers” reported to the Cullman County Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 30. They attended training programs at Camp Liberty through the military-themed summer camp, Extreme Military Challenge! Cadet Basic Training, led by actual military drill instructors, provided an introduction to military life, with training ranging from military drill to land navigation. For details, go to XMCCamp.com.
Camp Liberty is a veteran-owned business. For more details, go to Camp-Liberty.com.
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Cadet Flood presents the XMC platoon colors with the graduating class. (Maggie Darnell for the Cullman Tribune)
