Youth Challenge Program

Top left: Cadet Darblin Cabral, from the Ft. Stewart Youth Challenge Academy Class 47 Honor Guard. Top right: A Youth Challenge Academy cadet throws a sandbag to Georgia State Defense Force Cpl. Richard Wilson. Bottom left: A student hugs her mother during the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Academy Family Day event. Bottom right: The Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program Cadet Color Guard team.

The Youth ChalleNGe Program is a program for at-risk youth run by the National Guard of the United States (which is why the NG in ChalleNGe is either: Capitalized, Italicized, Bolded or all of the above), which consists of Youth Challenge Academies (known as YCA's) in each participating state. The stated mission of the Youth Challenge Program is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program accepts 16- to 18-year-old male and female high school dropouts who are drug-free and not in trouble with the law. The program lasts for 17½ months. The first 5½ months are part of the quasi-military Residential Phase. The last 12 months are part of the Post-Residential Phase. Most participants will earn their GED or a high school diploma by the end of their Residential Phase.

The program is one of many programs administered by the National Guard Bureau that address leadership, life skills, and physical training.

Phases

Acclimation phase

The program begins with a 2-week Acclimation Phase where candidates can adjust to the physical, mental, and disciplined aspects of the program. At the end of the Acclimation Phase, candidates graduate to cadets and begin the Residential Phase of the program.

Residential phase

The residential phase is a 22-week long phase and the main phase of the Youth Challenge Program. During the Residential Phase, Cadets will attend school, participate in physical training, learn the values of discipline and teamwork, and explore numerous career opportunities.

Post-residential phase

The post-residential phase is a 12-month period that focuses on placement. Cadets must secure positive placement via a job, returning to high school, enrolling in college or a trade program, enlist in the military, or volunteer at least 30 hours a week. Cadets are also expected to maintain contact with their mentor and the program placement staff.

Participating states and territories

The following is a list of states who participate in the Youth Challenge Program. Some states have multiple campuses; for example, Georgia has a YCA at both Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon, but both fall under the same state director.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Guard Programs and Presentations Archived May 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Youth Challenge Program Phases - National Guard Youth Challenge | Dream. Believe. Achieve".
  3. ↑ "Youth Challenge Program Phases - National Guard Youth Challenge | Dream. Believe. Achieve".
  4. ↑ "Alaska Military Youth Academy". dmva.alaska.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Arkansas Youth Challenge". www.aryouthchallenge.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Sunburst Youth Academy". www.sunburstyouthacademy.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.cgyca.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.floridayouthchallengeacademy.org. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Georgia Youth Challenge". www.georgiayouthchallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  10. ↑ "State of Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy". dod.hawaii.gov/yca. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.idyouthchallenge.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lincoln's Challenge Academy". www.lincolnschallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy". hoosieryouthchallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program". www.kychallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Louisiana National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program". www.langycp.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ansel M. Stroud, Jr". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy". miycp.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Mississippi ChalleNGe Academy". msyouthchallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Montana Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.youthchallenge.mt.gov. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy". nvng.nv.gov/BBYCA/. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  21. ↑ "New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.nj.gov/military/challenge/index.html. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  22. ↑ "New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.nmyca.net. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy". nc-tcachallenge.org/national-challenge-program. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Thunderbird Youth Academy". thunderbird.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Oregon Youth Challenge Program". www.oycp.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  26. ↑ White, Jeff (April 3, 2017). "Puerto Rico Youth ChalleNGe Academy Graduates 225 Cadets". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy". Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ "SC Youth ChalleNGe Academy". www.scyouthchallenge.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Tennessee National Guard Volunteer ChalleNGe Academy". www.tn.gov. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Texas ChalleNGe Academy". tmd.texas.gov. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Virginia National Guard Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy". www.vachallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Washington Youth Academy". mil.wa.gov/youth-academy. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy". wvchallenge.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Wisconsin ChalleNGe Academy". www.challengeacademy.org. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy". wycowboychallenge.org. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2018.