Danville Teens Make Extreme Choices

Danville, Ca: Two local teens made an extreme choice this summer that led them to an amazing adventure.. Presley and Sophia Stuart chose to attend Extreme Military Challenge! (XMC) at Camp Liberty in Battleground, Alabama. The program is the most realistic basic training experience available to teens.

“What did these kids do to be sent off to a camp like that?” you may be asking yourself. Nothing! Presley and Sophia Stuart decided they needed to broaden experience, and they wanted to be challenged in ways that they would not get from a traditional summer camp. So, they built a case on how attending XMC would not only be good for them physically but also benefit their futures. They insisted this camp would build character, test emotional and physical stamina, and forge lifetime friendships. They would be mentored at every step and learn true teamwork. Most of all they would earn respect for themselves and their accomplishments. XMC is a 2 – 6 week-long program that tolerates no slacking and gives no participation awards. XMC is not for the weak minded! Recruits make it or they don’t…nothing is given. Nearly 170 young people, from 29 states and 11 countries, traveled to Camp Liberty to attend this unique and exceptional program.

The first week of Cadet Basic Training is the hardest. There is a lot to learn…the structure, hardcore physical training (PT), sleepless nights and an understanding that if one person in a platoon screw ups, then the entire platoon will be held accountable. If a recruit makes mistakes, acts reckless, does not fulfill their obligations, speaks disrespectfully, then everyone pays – they all win or lose as one! It is a very quick lesson to identify who is all in for the team and who is not as concerned. The obstacle course is run as a team, where each recruit helps, encourages and pushes each other to make it through, even when they think they can’t. Each recruit learns that they can push though just about anything, if not for themselves for those counting on them in their platoon. You eat what is on your plate and you do it in a specific time frame. It’s “yes, sir!” and “yes, ma’am” to everyone that you come in contact with. These kids lose their voices because they are expected to be “Loud and Proud” every time they open their mouth.

By the second week, the challenges of the daily schedule become routine. The Staff recognizes the success of the team and each individual recruit as they gel as a unit. Week 2 includes water survival, physical fitness testing, leadership skills, basic medical emergency response, ropes courses, rappelling, and the list goes on. There is a whole host of things in the other weeks that many graduated Cadets get to do from the three-week Cadet Ranger School, SCUBA certification, marksmanship, aviation, engineering and they are adding new things to be ready for next year!

“We are not recruiters for the Armed Forces,” said Colonel Joseph M. Land, Sr., the President of Liberty Communications, which owns Camp Liberty and executes the XMC program. “We provide a very realistic view of the military lifestyle, which instills a sense of self-confidence and appreciation for service in our young people.” Colonel Land is a veteran of over 35 years of leading Cadet programs.

Cadet Presley Stuart, 14, earned Company Honor Graduate and received the coveted XMC Challenge Coin serialized as 001. As a result, he was meritoriously promoted to Cadet Private First Class. C/PFC Stuart was also awarded a scholarship to the five-day “Cadet Staff Ride” in Washington, DC as well.

Cadet Sophia Stuart, 16, also earned her XMC Challenge Coin for completing Cadet Basic Training. Her platoon, 3rd Platoon - earned three competitive streamers, in competition with the other three platoons. . Each platoon competes for the streamers which are a reflection of the unit’s determination and accomplishment.

Completing the two-week Cadet Basic Training program, and earning the title of “Cadet” means you understand you are owed nothing and that what you get in life is based on what you work for and earn. Cadets hold firm to the Army Values, which are: LOYALTY. DUTY. RESPECT. SELFLESS SERVICE. HONOR. INTEGRITY. PERSONAL COURAGE. Cadets do the right thing, even when no one else knows. They are expected to EARN the title every day in all they do.

Both Stuart Cadets, along with 19 other outstanding XMC Cadets, were hand-picked to participate in the annual “Cadet Staff Ride” for five incredible and packed days. in Washington D.C. They participated in the opening ceremony for the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), a reception with the Secretary of the Army, toured the Pentagon, visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and had the honor to participate in a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They had the opportunity to meet and network with the Secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning, U.S. Army 4 Star General Daniel Bartlett Allen (the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army) Sergeant Major Daniel Dailey, as well as several other senior and highly decorated military officials.

On Tuesday, October 4th, 2016, at 6:30 pm, while the sun set over the WWII Memorial, C/PFC Stuart was presented with the Master Sergeant J.W. Crawford Leadership Award, named after WWII hero MSG Crawford. The moment was surreal, as there was so much emotion in this setting, and it was truly an honor. MSG Crawford is COL Land's late grandfather, who bravely served in the 101st Airborne Division during WWII. MSG Crawford was a Prisoner of War, received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. This is an event that will not be forgotten, C/PFC Stuart was overwhelmed and humbled by this award.

As a 20 year business owner and fiercely proud mom in this community, I am beyond proud of both of my Cadets. The skills they learned, the stamina and determination they devoted to themselves, their platoons, and their seniors has been outstanding. Great teams are made of hard work and, fierce determination, which has been displayed by off of the young people who earned the title “Cadet.” These skills will serve the Stuart Cadets well into the future. After this awesome experience I wish parents would sit with their sons and daughters and consider this program. Kids really do respect the structure, even though it is a tough program the relationships they build are like none other. I saw many kids from 13 – 18 from all different places from that absolutely thrived in it! And this past week I got to travel with them and see them in action – Absolutely incredible! XMC demands accountability and instills hard-earned confidence. It is truly an amazing experience your teens will hate for the first three days, it will get easier and yet still be tough all the way through but, when they get to that graduation day you can see the pride they have in all that they have accomplished and that is worth it!. After seeing the relationships that they have built with the Cadets as well as the XMC Staff and their leaders I am even more confident that they made a choice that will better them forever! I cannot wait to see what next summer has in store for their next Extreme Military Challenge!

About XMC: The Extreme Military Challenge! (XMC) Military Summer Camp is operated by Liberty Communications, LLC. XMC's senior staff have 35+ years of experience running Military Summer ­Camps in locations throughout the US, providing thousands of teenagers from around the world the opportunity to experience the military lifestyle through realistic and challenging programs. The location is the best training site compared to the handful of somewhat similar programs.

XMC's staff is passionate about providing the best and safest experience possible. The XMC staff only enroll young men and women who WANT to attend the camps. They do not take disciplinary cases. They do not "fix" kids. Their goal is to help kids succeed. They are absolutely NOT a "Scared Straight" type of program. In fact, they are firmly against using the military training model for such purposes. The XMC staff is focused solely on providing the best summer experience possible with no secondary mission of recruiting. For more information, visit http://www.xmccamp.com.