I am a Youth
The National Guard ChalleNGe Program, a preventive rather than remedial youth-at-risk program, targets participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16 to 18 years of age. Core components of the program are responsible citizenship, academic excellence, life-coping skills, service to community, health and hygiene, job skills, leadership/followership, and physical fitness. The five-month Residential Phase is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth's community.