National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a 17-month intervention for high school dropouts ages 16-18 who are unemployed, drug-free, and not heavily involved with the justice system. The program serves both males and females (approximately 80% male) with no income-based eligibility criteria. It consists of three phases: Pre-ChalleNGe (2 weeks of demanding orientation and assessment), Residential Phase (20 weeks in a quasi-military environment on a military base covering eight core components: Leadership/Followership, Responsible Citizenship, Service to Community, Life-Coping Skills, Physical Fitness, Health and Hygiene, Job Skills, and Academic Excellence), and Postresidential Phase (one year of structured mentoring). During the residential phases, participants live at the program site in barracks, wear uniforms, follow military-style discipline, and maintain a highly structured daily schedule with close staff supervision. Most programs help participants prepare for the GED exam, though some offer high school diplomas. The program uses a unique mentoring model where young people nominate their own mentors during application, and staff maintain monthly contact with graduates and mentors during the postresidential phase. There are no requirements for military service.