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Alaska Military Youth Academy intake day and first morning is a bittersweet day for a lot of families and cadets

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Haiden Denover poses for a photograph with family before beginning the AMYA 22-week program July 19, 2023. AMYA partners with youth ages 16-18 to develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership, and life-coping

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Haiden Denover poses for a photograph with family before beginning the AMYA 22-week program July 19, 2023. AMYA partners with youth ages 16-18 to develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership, and life-coping skills to assist youth with their academic and future success.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Teondai Carter prays with her mother before beginning the AMYA 22-week program July 19, 2023. After processing cadet candidates rode a bus to Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Teondai Carter prays with her mother before beginning the AMYA 22-week program July 19, 2023. After processing cadet candidates rode a bus to Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy get off the bus after receiving their gear to begin their 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19, 2023.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy get off the bus after receiving their gear to begin their 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19, 2023.

Five incoming Alaska Military Youth Academy candidates wait to be taken to their barracks after relinquishing their personal belongings, getting their heads shaved and receiving their gear at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19,

Five incoming Alaska Military Youth Academy candidates wait to be taken to their barracks after relinquishing their personal belongings, getting their heads shaved and receiving their gear at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19, 2023.

Candidate Kamarrie Hinds gets his head shaved as part of the intake process for the Alaska Military Youth Academy July 19, 2023. Candidates began their 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and spend a week going thr

Candidate Kamarrie Hinds gets his head shaved as part of the intake process for the Alaska Military Youth Academy July 19, 2023. Candidates began their 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and spend a week going through the acclimation phase before becoming full cadets in the residential program.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy walk single file to their barracks at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19, 2023. Candidates began their acclimation phase for the 22-week residential academy program with a fresh hai

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy walk single file to their barracks at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 19, 2023. Candidates began their acclimation phase for the 22-week residential academy program with a fresh haircut and moving into their housing.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nicholas Conklin directs a candidate to get out of bed during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Candidates were “shocked”

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nicholas Conklin directs a candidate to get out of bed during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Candidates were “shocked” out of bed at 6 a.m., put through calisthenics and learned what the next 22 weeks will be like.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Bilal Harbi sits on the floor with his head in his hands during the Alaska Military Youth Academy's shock morning at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Bilal Harbi sits on the floor with his head in his hands during the Alaska Military Youth Academy's shock morning at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nyamuoch Dong motivates the women candidates to do a set of push-ups during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Shock morn

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nyamuoch Dong motivates the women candidates to do a set of push-ups during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Shock morning is designed to show candidates what is expected of them for the next 22 weeks.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Sam Barnlund encourages a candidate to do push-ups during shock morning at the start of the 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Shock morning is a wake-up c

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Sam Barnlund encourages a candidate to do push-ups during shock morning at the start of the 22-week AMYA program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Shock morning is a wake-up call for candidates that introduces then to what the next 22 weeks will be like and what will be expected of them.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nicholas Conklin asks which candidate lost a water bottle during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Nicholas Conklin asks which candidate lost a water bottle during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Xavier Flint questions a candidate during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Xavier Flint questions a candidate during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy platoon leader Justin Giles directs a candidate during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy platoon leader Justin Giles directs a candidate during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy stand in formation during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Candidates are put through their paces with an early m

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy stand in formation during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023. Candidates are put through their paces with an early morning wake up followed by calisthenics, marching, cleaning and learning what the next 22 weeks will be like.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Bilal Harbi struggles to complete a set of push-ups during shock morning calisthenics at the start of the 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy candidate Bilal Harbi struggles to complete a set of push-ups during shock morning calisthenics at the start of the 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy stand at attention during shock morning orientation at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Candidates in the Alaska Military Youth Academy stand at attention during shock morning orientation at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Xavier Flint leads his platoon from the mess hall back to the barracks during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Xavier Flint leads his platoon from the mess hall back to the barracks during shock morning at the start of the AMYA 22-week program at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson July 20, 2023.