III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 424 

Honoring the 25th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge 

Program. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 6, 2018 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr. PERDUE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the 25th anniversary of the National Guard Youth 

Challenge Program. 

Whereas the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Youth Challenge Program’’) is celebrating 25 years of providing successful 

and free alternative education and structured discipline 

to at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18; 

Whereas the Youth Challenge Program was born from the visionary concept of using a ‘‘whole person’’ intervention 

model to combat the effects of gangs, violence, high rates 

of school dropout, and drug abuse on a generation of 

youth; 

Whereas the Youth Challenge Program is a federally and 

State-funded program that offers a unique opportunity 


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•SRES 424 IS 

for at-risk youth to change course at a critical time in 

life; 

Whereas the multiphased Youth Challenge Program uses 

quasi-military discipline and training, coupled with educational instruction, learning, and mentorship, to promote 

the character development and resilience of at-risk youth; 

Whereas one phase of the Youth Challenge Program is a 5- 

month residential program that focuses on the following 

8 core components: life-coping skills, leadership and 

followership, service to community, job skills, academic 

excellence, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, 

and physical fitness; 

Whereas another phase of the Youth Challenge Program is 

a 12-month mentoring phase that builds on the 8 core 

components to help shape youth into productive citizens 

ready for societal success; 

Whereas the Youth Challenge Program offers more than 

10,000 cadets annually an opportunity to succeed outside 

of a traditional high school environment; 

Whereas there are currently 40 Youth Challenge programs 

operating in 28 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of 

Columbia; 

Whereas more than 160,000 cadets have graduated from the 

Youth Challenge Program; 

Whereas more than 110,000 academic credentials have been 

awarded under the Youth Challenge Program; and 

Whereas graduates of the Youth Challenge Program have improved physically and mentally and are poised to become 

assets to the communities of the graduates and to the 

United States: Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 424 IS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that the National Guard Youth 

3 Challenge Program has been successfully helping at4 risk youth for 25 years; 

5 (2) commends the accomplishments of all of the 

6 graduates of the National Guard Youth Challenge 

7 Program; and 

8 (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to 

9 support— 

10 (A) the National Guard Youth Challenge 

11 Program; and 

12 (B) the critical mission of the National 

13 Guard Youth Challenge Program to help and 

14 develop the character of at-risk youth in the 

15 United States. 

Æ 


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