The Youth Challenge Program is a program for at-risk youth run by the
National Guard of the United States, 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 dropout
Dropout or drop out may refer to:
* Dropping out, prematurely leaving school, college or university
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Dropout'' (film), a 1970 Italian drama
* "The Dropout", a 1970 episode of ''The Brady Bunch'' ...
s 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
The National Guard Bureau is the federal instrument responsible for the administration of the National Guard established by the United States Congress as a joint bureau of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. It was cre ...
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
Ft. Stewart and
Ft. Gordon, but both fall under the same state director.
*
Alaska
*
Arkansas
*
California
*
District of Columbia
*
Florida
*
Georgia
*
Hawaii
*
Idaho
*
Illinois
*
Indiana
*
Kentucky
*
Louisiana
*
Maryland
*
Michigan
*
Mississippi
*
Montana
*
Nevada
*
New Jersey
*
New Mexico
*
North Carolina
*
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
*
Oregon
*
Puerto Rico
*
South Carolina
*
Tennessee
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Texas
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Virginia
*
Washington
*
West Virginia
*
Wisconsin
*
Wyoming
Related Programs by the National Guard
Partners in EducationHUMVEE School ProgramYOU CAN School ProgramGuard Fit ChallengeHeritage Outreach ProgramASVAB Career Exploration ProgramGED Plus Program
Gallery
File:Grizzly Youth Academy Groundbreaking (12230079043).jpg, Officials break ground for the California National Guard's Grizzly Youth Academy program expansion work at Camp San Luis Obispo.
File:Youth Challenge Cadets Graduate in Time for Holidays National Guard Affiliated Program Gives Youth a Second Chance DVIDS352614.jpg, Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy cadets applaud at their graduation ceremony held at the high school in Knightstown, Indiana.
File:National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program 150210-Z-DZ751-014.jpg, Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief, National Guard Bureau, converses with a Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadet.
File:Badger Challenge cadets work on a walking trail near the Wisconsin Military Academy.jpg, Badger Challenge cadets work on a walking trail near the Wisconsin Military Academy.
File:A backpack journalist (5965286524).jpg, Youth ChalleNGe cadet Triana Daughtry of Augusta reviews her writing with "A Backpack Journalist" instructor Dillon Horne during a free-verse poetry course.
See also
*Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...
*Exploring (Learning for Life)
Exploring is an interactive, worksite-based career education program of Learning for Life, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America. Participants in the program are called ''Explorers''. The program serves youth in 6th-8th grades (Exploring c ...
* Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
* United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
* Young Marines
References
External links
Official National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program SiteOfficial National Guard Youth Foundation SitesOfficial Southern California Sunburst Youth ChalleNGe Academy SiteOfficial Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy SiteOfficial South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy SiteOfficial Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy Site
{{NGbystate
National Guard (United States)
American military youth groups
Learning programs