WWW.NGCHALLENGE.ORG

GENERAL INFORMATION

» Multi-phased intervention program targeting high school dropouts 151/2 to 18 years of age

» Structured, disciplined 51⁄2 month Residential Phase focusing on education and life skills followed by a

12- month Post-Residential Phase utilizing trained Mentors supporting Graduates engaged in positive placement

» 196,644 graduates since Youth Challenge inception in 1993 (including graduates from closed YCPs) 

» NGYCP has 40 Youth Challenge and 7 Job Challenge Programs in 31 states and territories with ~2,400 employees

THE CHALLENGE MODEL

» Administered by the Department of Defense (DoD) and implemented by the National Guard Bureau (NGB)

» Funded by Federal and State entities: Federal government contributes 75% and States contribute 25%

» Utilizes military-like discipline & training along with educational instruction, experiential learning & mentoring

» Focused on improving education, life skills, discipline and employment potential of participants

» Based on eight core components: Academic Excellence, Life Coping Skills, Job Skills, Health and Hygiene, 

Responsible Citizenship, Service to Community, Leadership/Followership, and Physical Fitness 

CHALLENGE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

» Economically and educationally disadvantaged youth from within each program state, district, or territory

» 151/2 to 18-year-old high school dropouts or students who are at-risk of not graduating

» Enroll voluntarily 

» Willing to be drug free

» Not on parole or probation for other than juvenile status offenses, not indicted or charged, and free of felony 

convictions or capital offenses

» Physically and mentally capable of program participation with reasonable accommodations for disabilities 

THE JOB CHALLENGE PROGRAM (JCP) 

» Optional Job Skills Phase; utilizes the ChalleNGe Model for NGYCP grads under the age of 21

» Flexible, 5-month residential phase where NGYCP graduates pursue locally in-demand job certifications

» 1,665 graduates since Job Challenge inception in 2015 

YOUTH CHALLENGE STATISTICS FY93-FY22 // JOB CHALLENGE STATISTICS FY15-FY22

» 470,320 NGYCP Applicants // 3,623 JCP Applicants

» 270,081 NGYCP Enrollees // 2,189 JCP Enrollees

» 194,979 NGYCP Graduates // 1,665 JCP Graduates

» 169,712 NGYCP Credentials // 9,493 JCP Credentials (NOTE: Credentials are defined as HS Equivalency Diploma, 

HS Diploma, HS Credit, College Credit, Job Certifications and Apprenticeships)

» 12,886,993 Hours of Service to Communities valued at $269,945,503 (NOTE: Value based on national average per 

hour volunteer value: https://www.independentsector.org/resource/the-value-of-volunteer-time/)

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe

PROGRAM FACTS FY2022
WWW.NGCHALLENGE.ORG

CURRENT YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAMS 

1. AK – Alaska Military Youth Academy – Fort Richardson, AK

2. AR – Arkansas Youth Challenge – Camp Robinson, N. Little Rock, AR

3. CA – Discovery Challenge Academy – Sharpe Army Depot, Stockton, CA

4. CA – Grizzly Youth Academy – Camp San Luis Obispo, CA

5. CA – Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy – Los Alamitos, CA

6. DC – Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy – Laurel, MD

7. FL – Florida Youth Challenge Academy – Camp Blanding, FL

8. GA – Fort Gordon Youth Challenge Academy – Fort Gordon, GA

9. GA – Fort Stewart Youth Challenge Academy – Fort Stewart, GA

10. HI – Kalaeloa Youth Challenge Academy – Barbers Point NAS, Kapolei, HI

11. HI – Hilo Youth Challenge Academy – Keaukaha Military Reserve, Hilo, HI

12. ID – Idaho Youth Challenge Academy – Pierce, ID

13. IL – Lincoln’s Challenge Academy – Rantoul, IL

14. IN – Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy – Knightstown, IN

15. KY – Appalachian Challenge Academy – Gray’s Knob, KY

16. KY – Bluegrass Challenge Academy – Fort Knox, KY

17. LA – Camp Beauregard Youth Challenge Academy – Camp Beauregard, Pineville, LA

18. LA – Camp Minden Youth Challenge Academy – Camp Minden, LA

19. LA – Gillis Long Youth Challenge Academy – Carville, LA

20. MD – Freestate Challenge Academy – Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD

21. MI – Michigan Youth Challenge Academy – Battle Creek, MI

22. MS – Mississippi Challenge Academy – Camp Shelby, MS

23. MT – Montana Youth Challenge Academy – University of MT Western, Dillon, MT

24. NC – New London Challenge Academy – New London, NC

25. NC – Salemburg Tarheel Challenge Academy – Salemburg, NC

26. NJ – New Jersey Youth Challenge Academy – Sea Girt, NJ

27. NM – New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy – Roswell, NM

28. NV – Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy – Carlin, NV

29. OK – Thunderbird Challenge Academy – Pryor, OK

30. OR – Oregon Youth Challenge Academy – Bend, OR

31. PA – Keystone State Challenge Academy – Fort Indiantown Gap, PA

32. PR – Puerto Rico Youth Challenge Academy – Fort Allen, Juana Diaz, PR

33. SC – South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy – McCrady ARNG Training Center, Eastover, SC

34. TX – Texas Challenge Academy – Eagle Lake, TX

35. VA – Commonwealth Challenge – Camp Pendleton, Virginia Beach, VA

36. WA – Washington Youth Academy – Bremerton, WA

37. WI – Wisconsin Youth Challenge Academy – Fort McCoy, WI

38. WV – Mountaineer Challenge Academy - North – Camp Dawson, Kingwood, WV

39. WV – Mountaineer Challenge Academy - South – Montgomery, WV

40. WY – Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy – Camp Guernsey, WY

CURRENT JOB CHALLENGE PROGRAMS

1. CA – California Jobs Challenge – Los Alamitos, CA

2. GA – Georgia Job Challenge Program – Fort Stewart, GA

3. LA – Louisiana Job Challenge Program – Gillis Long / Carville, LA*

4. MI – Michigan Job Challenge Program – Fort Custer, Battle Creek, MI

5. SC – South Carolina Post Challenge Program – McCrady ARNG Training Center, Eastover, SC

6. WV – Mountaineer Job Challenge Program – Camp Dawson, Kingwood, WV 

7. NM – New Mexico Job Challenge Program – Albuquerque, NM

*Department of Labor funded

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe | PROGRAM FACTS FY2022