Improving Life Skills and Employment Potential for Our Nation's Youth
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What is the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program?
The Youth ChalleNGe Program is a multi-phased intervention program for at-risk youth run by the National Guard of the United States. It consists of Youth ChalleNGe Academies (known as YCAs) in each participating state, including Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy here in Carlin, Nevada.
The stated mission of the Youth ChalleNGe Program is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults."
Through military-based training, our program goal is to significantly improve the life skills and employment potential of youth who have fallen behind on credits and are unlikely to graduate on time in a traditional high school setting.
Reclaiming the Potential of Nevada's Youth
The mission of the Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy is to reclaim the potential of qualified and resilient youth through education, training, and service to the community.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a preventive rather than remedial program. It serves high school students ages 16–18 who are at risk of not graduating on time, are free of felony offenses, and are willing to become drug-free.
Cadets recover credits, earn new credits, and if eligible, earn their high school diploma or prepare for the HiSET — while building citizenship, leadership, physical fitness, and job skills along the way.
Life at Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy
The Program
A five-and-a-half-month residential phase is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with specially trained mentors from each cadet's own community.
Core Components
Life Coping Skills, Service to the Community, Academic Excellence, Physical Fitness, Health and Hygiene, Responsible Citizenship, Job Skills, and Leadership/Followership.
Support
A comprehensive support package — from appropriate clothing to residential training facilities — is provided so every cadet has what they need to succeed.
Mentorship
Our mentoring program meets or exceeds the national standards set by the National Mentoring Partnership, covering mentor recruiting, screening, training, matching, monitoring, and support.
Who Can Apply
Participants must be:
- Voluntarily applying
- 16–18 years old
- Behind in credits
- A citizen or legal resident of the United States and the State of Nevada
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Willing to be drug-free
- Not on parole or probation for, not indicted or charged with, and not convicted of a felony offense or any offense that would be a felony if charged as an adult
- Physically and mentally capable of completing the program, with reasonable accommodations for physical or other disabilities
Eligible youth must apply, attend a program presentation, and participate in an interview before being considered for acceptance to the Academy.
Participating States & U.S. Territories
Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy, in accordance with Nevada State Law, does not discriminate based on age, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, or disability.
Are You Ready for the Challenge?
Our program provides graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.