Over the river and through the woods . . . but grandma’s house isn’t the destination.

Upon arrival, they’ll trade in their baggy pants and attitudes for quasi-military garb, a regulation-style haircut and the chance to make their lives better.

These troubled teens from throughout the state are enrolled in the 22-week ChalleNGe program at Camp Smith. Their goal at the end of the program is to leave with a general equivalency diploma in hand.

It’s nothing but a win-win situation when a military community joins forces and rallies to help those less fortunate, said both active-duty and retired military members who make up the cadre and fill leadership positions in the program.

Bradley Westrick, a newly appointed assistant swimming coach at West Point is also a newly-hired cadre member in ChalleNGe. He found out about this program as an eight-year National Guard combat medic. When he saw the chance to make a difference, he took it.

"I wanted to get involved because there is a direct correlation between discipline and accomplishments," Westrick said. "When athletes are disciplined, they succeed. West Point teaches the cadets that. When troubled teens become disciplined, they too learn the possibilities that open them up to succeed. I can help be a part of that through ChalleNGe."

The program, sponsored by the New York National Guard and partially funded by the federal government, is an innovative paramilitary approach at recapturing the "at-risk" high school dropouts, said New York Guardsman Brig. Gen. Thomas Cleland, director of the ChalleNGe program.

"We use the National Guard core values as the basis of the program, but the focus is on education and helping these kids earn their GEDs while also learning to become productive, respected members of society," Cleland said.

To reach that goal, the program is broken into three phases.

The first two weeks, or pre-ChalleNGe phase, teaches candidates basic military discipline, drill and team-building. They also get an introduction to what is expected of them in the classroom, said Joanne Mauro, the recruitment/post placement/mentoring coordinator. Mauro is also a U.S. Naval Reservist.

Phase two covers weeks three through 22 and focuses on academics. Corpmembers also receive indoctrination on making career choices, drug abuse awareness, personal values, skill development, leadership and military drill, Mauro said.

Phase three takes place after graduation and requires the graduates and their mentors to meet at least twice monthly and report back to the ChalleNGe staff.

"The post residential phase is 12 months and that is when the cadre/corpmember relationship is critical to the continued success of the program graduate," Cleland emphasized.

Does the program work?

According to statistics it does.

Since the program started in 1993, 500 GEDs have been earned; more than 1,100 youth have completed the program and less than one percent of those that attended have been incarcerated since leaving it. Current post-residents are attending college, a vocational school or other education program, have joined the military or have found employment.

"Even if they don’t earn a GED, they walk away with self-esteem. That is a much harder thing to break down," Cleland said.

Perhaps the best testimony to the program’s success comes from the graduates themselves.

Dana Loney, a 17-year-old native of Bayside, Queens, is currently serving as a peer-mentor for Iteration 18, the class now in progress. She graduated with her GED from Iteration 17 and will depart March 26 for naval basic training.

"I knew I had to change and I wanted to get out of my neighborhood. But I already had a reputation for cutting school so my teachers [from high school] wouldn’t take me seriously," Loney recalled. "But the people here -- the cadre -- and all they have done for me . . ." and her words faded away.