ChalleNGe Class 50 candidates transition to cadets during induction ceremony - Oct. 12, 2018

Members of Class 50 of the Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy transition from candidates to cadets during a ceremony Oct. 12, 2018, at Camp Pendleton State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Walt Mercer, chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, was on hand to swear in and congratulate the new cadets. Now that they have completed the physically taxing, two-week acclimation phase, the cadets also received an introduction to all of the ChalleNGe staff members, cadre and academic instructors they will be encountering over the next five months as they focus on the academic portion of the program.