Learning the ropes

Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy candidates begin their journey to becoming cadets

Teenage girl ziplines

Photo essay by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa
Video by Pfc. Yancy Mendoza
69th Public Affairs Detachment

July 27, 2022

Steadily and carefully maneuvering the rope course, Sunburst candidates on the ground root for their peers on top. With each roped bridge methodically crossed, a sense of relief and determination fill their face as those who have completed the course yell and cheer to move forward.

Class 30 candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif. complete one of their first of many challenges in the program: a rope course challenge at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif. The candidates are challenged to overcome fear and doubt in this rope obstacle course to teach them that with a bit of effort, motivation, and teamwork, they can overcome whatever they can if they put their head into it.

Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy is a voluntary alternate education program to help teens learn discipline and life skills to apply them in life. A semester in Sunburst is equivalent to a year's worth of high school credits that can benefit any teen falling behind.

Teen girl on rope bridge.

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., wait their turn to zipline at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022.  Sunburst is a free high school credit recovery program meant to help teens falling behind in school, while developing self confidence, discipline, and life skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., wait their turn to zipline at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022.  Sunburst is a free high school credit recovery program meant to help teens falling behind in school, while developing self confidence, discipline, and life skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Cadre supervise and engage with candidates from Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., during their lunch at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Sunburst candidates sleep, eat, and go to school on base while engaging in physical mental challenges throughout their five and half months in Sunburst academy. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

California State Guard Sgt. 1st Class Justin Harman stands in front of a rope course at Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. “The whole purpose behind the rope course is to teach our cadets…if they can go through this daunting physical task, they can go forward and do that with everything else in their life,” said Harman. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Cadre supervise and engage with candidates from Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., during their lunch at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Sunburst candidates sleep, eat, and go to school on base while engaging in physical mental challenges throughout their five and half months in Sunburst academy. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

California State Guard Sgt. 1st Class Justin Harman stands in front of a rope course at Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. “The whole purpose behind the rope course is to teach our cadets…if they can go through this daunting physical task, they can go forward and do that with everything else in their life,” said Harman. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., move forward to complete the rope course at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Some candidates were hesitant to continue on some of the obstacles but were motivated and encouraged by their peers who have completed the course to carry on. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., move forward to complete the rope course at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Some candidates were hesitant to continue on some of the obstacles but were motivated and encouraged by their peers who have completed the course to carry on. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Elijah Green, a candidate from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., crosses a rope bridge at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The candidates at Sunburst made a conscious decision to volunteer in the academy for their own benefit. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Elijah Green, a candidate from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., crosses a rope bridge at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The candidates at Sunburst made a conscious decision to volunteer in the academy for their own benefit. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., take a break on a tower at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Candidates that graduate Sunburst will earn a year's worth of highschool credits in the course of five and half months. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., take a break on a tower at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Candidates that graduate Sunburst will earn a year's worth of highschool credits in the course of five and half months. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., cheer as a peer ziplines at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The rope course teaches candidates to overcome fear and mental obstacles. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., cheer as a peer ziplines at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The rope course teaches candidates to overcome fear and mental obstacles. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., follow each other through a rope obstacle at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The volunteers in Sunburst are referred to as Candidates for the first two weeks, putting them through various mental and physical challenges before earning the title of Cadet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Candidates from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., follow each other through a rope obstacle at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The volunteers in Sunburst are referred to as Candidates for the first two weeks, putting them through various mental and physical challenges before earning the title of Cadet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

A candidate from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., descends a rope course using a zipline at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The rope course is part of a pre-challenge for the candidates at Sunburst in order to become a cadet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

A candidate from the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., descends a rope course using a zipline at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. The rope course is part of a pre-challenge for the candidates at Sunburst in order to become a cadet. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Charlie Platoon from Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., pose for a group photo at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Sunburst is available for teens who are at risk of dropping out of highschool or behind on school credits. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

Charlie Platoon from Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, Joint Forces Training Base, Calif., pose for a group photo at the Orange County Ropes Course in Anaheim, Calif., July 19, 2022. Sunburst is available for teens who are at risk of dropping out of highschool or behind on school credits. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. William Franco Espinosa)

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