Resident Phase

The first five and a half (5.5) months are spent in Rantoul, Illinois (20 miles north of Champaign-Urbana) at the ChalleNGe facility. The days are long, and the mental and physical activities are rigorous with very limited personal time. In addition to the physical training and classroom instruction, each cadet is required to complete 40 hours of community service activities as well as play an important role in the upkeep of living quarters and training facilities.

Cadets receive a weekly stipend of $10 to cover incidentals and encourage good money management skills. Meals, bedding, and clothing are all provided and there are no costs to the cadet or their family for participation in the program.

During the Resident Phase, cadets are supervised at all times and remain at the facility unless participating in an authorized, off-site activity. There are scheduled breaks during which all cadets return home for a specified amount of time, such as Thanksgiving or Easter. If a cadet misses more than five (5) days of training, they are immediately considered for dismissal from the program. Cadets may also be dismissed for successive disciplinary problems or if they fail one of the random drug tests.

Cadets in the Resident Phase are afforded several educational and vocational opportunities such as attending the Lincoln's Challenge Career Fair where they have the chance to speak with representatives from colleges and universities, businesses and the Armed Forces.

Cadets are encouraged to take the American College Testing (ACT) and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests while at Lincoln's Challenge during the Resident Phase.

The Resident Phase is divided into two parts; Pre-Challenge and Challenge. Of the twenty-two (22) weeks that make up the Resident Phase, the Pre-Challenge Phase occurs during the first two (2) weeks, while the Challenge Phase is the remaining twenty (20) weeks.

Pre-Challenge

As directed by NGB, Pre-Challenge is the first two (2) weeks of the Resident Phase. During this period, each candidate is challenged physically and mentally with a standard curriculum designed to familiarize him/her with the program. At the end of this period, each candidate is evaluated. It is then determined as to which candidate(s) can or can not meet the Challenge requirements.

Challenge

The Challenge period is week three (3) through week twenty-two (22). This period is further divided into three phases. Each phase allows the cadet to earn more privileges as a reward for appropriate behavior.

1. Phase I - Initial. During this phase, the cadets are rigidly controlled with the focus on team building and performance.

2. Phase II - Intermediate. The focus in this phase is on individual performance, with cadets receiving additional privileges.

3. Phase III - Final. Cadets are given additional responsibilities and privileges with a primary focus on preparing them for the Post Resident Phase and return to their communities.

Individual cadets will not move from one phase to the next. The phased Challenge period is designed for the entire class with the Director having the authority to move a class into a different phase. The staff is responsible for making recommendations.