The Alabama National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy is a program designed to give at-risk males and females the opportunity to change their future.  It targets participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16 to 18 years of age.  Participants live and work in a controlled military environment while encouraging teamwork and personal growth.  The main areas of focus are our core components:

The five-month Residential Phase, in addition to a two-week Pre-ChalleNGe Phase, is followed by the Post-Residential Phase, a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth's community.  The academy is structured as a "military boarding school" to promote an academic environment focusing on the core components.