About the Program
Mission
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (NGYCP) is to intervene in and realign the trajectory of underperforming youths’ lives to produce program graduates with the values, life skills, education, job skills, and self-discipline necessary to become citizens realizing their full potential.
Making A Difference
Est. in 1993 – 45 Programs in 29 States & Territories
215,000+ Students Have Graduated
Est. in 1993 – 45 Programs in 29 States & Territories
215,000+ Students Have Graduated
Est. in 1993 – 45 Programs in 29 States & Territories
The Program
The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a 22½ week residential program that leads, trains, and mentors 15½ – 18-year-olds who have diverted from traditional academic pathways so that they may become contributing American citizens. It utilizes military-type training based on structure, discipline, and consistency to teach struggling adolescents the skills needed for their future success, embodied in eight core components—academics; physical fitness; health and hygiene; citizenship; life skills; job skills; leadership/followership; and service to community. This time-proven curriculum holistically addresses cadets’ shortcomings, in a controlled environment that removes outside distractions, such as unhealthy social circles and negative influences.
The award-winning program has been recognized as one of the nation’s most effective and cost-efficient programs targeting youth who are on a trajectory that can lead to limited future opportunities and even life-threatening behaviors.
Youth Challenge Program Success
Since 2016, over 80% of Challenge graduates earned their HS diploma or earned enough credits to be able to return to high school in good standing.
Over 80% of graduates were placed…going to school, working, or in the military within one year.
Over half of graduates earned college credits during Challenge.
Program participants have donated over 13.7 million hours of community service during the program’s duration.
Over 30% of the graduates obtain job skill certifications.
Programs have awarded graduates nearly 300,000 academic credentials. More than 215,000 teens have graduated.