PURPOSE OF THE YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM

The Georgia National Guard ChalleNGe Academy, a preventive rather than remedial youth-at-risk program, targets participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16 to 19 years of age. Core components of the program are citizenship, academic excellence (GED attainment), life-coping skills, community service, health and hygiene, job skills training, leadership followership, and physical training. The five-month Residential Phase, which includes the Pre- ChalleNGe Phase, is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth's community.