Maryland Teen’s Nightmare Inside State Youth Boot Camp

A Maryland family is demanding accountability. After their son, then 17, was allegedly beaten unconscious by fellow cadets at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy. A National Guard–run program for at-risk youth based at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

In early August 2022, Nathanael Royal called his parents, begging them to take him home. Saying other cadets were attacking teens with “rock socks” and “lock socks,” makeshift weapons made from socks stuffed with rocks or locks. Royal had joined the program hoping for a second chance after failing ninth and 10th grade. But quickly he became fearful for his safety.

During his one weekly 10-minute phone call, Royal told his parents about the violence, but they dismissed his concerns. “We honestly didn’t believe him,” said his mother, Shayna Royal. “The sergeants told us the kids would say anything to come home.”

A week later, around 3 a.m. on August 16, Royal said several masked cadets held him down in bed and beat him repeatedly. Striking him in the head until he lost consciousness. When questioned by a sergeant later that morning, Royal, too afraid to tell the truth, claimed he had been stung by a bee.

A nurse later called Shayna, who took her son to the emergency room. Medical records reviewed by *The Baltimore Sun* showed Royal suffered a contusion and possible concussion. His discharge notes warned of potential brain injury symptoms. Including nausea and concentration issues.

“He was very lucky,” Shayna said, though her son didn’t feel the same. He struggled for months afterward with insomnia, fear, and emotional trauma. Often staying in bed or isolating himself. “Everything in my mind was in a different place,” Royal said.

The Maryland Military Department declined interview requests. Instead issued a statement through Public Affairs Manager Chazz Kibbler. “The Maryland Military Department’s top priority has always been, and will remain, the health, safety, and well-being of the cadets entrusted to our care at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy. We are aware of concerns raised about incidents at the academy and take any allegation of misconduct or unsafe conditions seriously.”

Royal’s parents accused the program of ignoring the assault and refusing to cover his hospital bills. “He’s not who he was before,” Shayna said. “I just want them shut down.”

Jason Royal, Nathanael’s father, said then-director Keith Dickerson downplayed the incident. “He kept saying ‘your son was allegedly assaulted,’” Jason said. “He was brushing the whole thing off.”

Dickerson, who stepped down in April 2024, said Royal had been trying to leave the program from the start. Which caused doubts about his claims. He said he expected to hear from the family after the hospital visit but “never heard from them again.”

Frustrated, Jason posted a one-star Google review of Freestate. Sharing photos of his son’s swollen and bruised head. “BEWARE! BEWARE!” he wrote. “Do not send your kids to Freestate ChalleNGe Academy. The kids’ safety is not the number one priority.”

After the attack, Freestate staff allegedly told the Royals to return Nathanael to the program, but the family refused. They attempted to re-enroll him in public school. Where he was denied due to his age. Attempts to seek legal help through a military lawyer led nowhere.

Now 19, Royal still struggles with the trauma and blames his parents for not believing him. “They didn’t believe me. It was their fault. I stand on that,” he said.

It took him another year to complete his GED, which he earned in December 2024. He now works overnight shifts at Target but continues to deal with lasting effects from the assault.

Jason Royal, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and suffers from PTSD. Said he’s frustrated by the program’s lack of accountability. “They preach how it’s supposed to be very safe,” he said. “They were just blowing smoke."

Editor’s Note:

This story sheds light on the troubling experiences faced by some participants in state-run youth programs. Raising serious questions about oversight and safety. Speaking of safety, for those working or training in low-light environments, the PETZL Swift RL Headlamp Black/White with its 1100 lumens and Reactive Lighting technology can be a reliable companion to help you stay alert and prepared in any situation.