Hawaii Job Challenge Academy
Hilo, HI
"Reset, Refocus, Rise"
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
2024
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Hawaii
The Verdict
PREREQUISITE: Must be a Youth Challenge Academy graduate—you cannot apply directly. Hawaii Job Challenge Academy represents an innovative evolution in the National Guard's approach to youth development. As one of only eight Job Challenge programs nationwide, it extends the proven Youth Challenge model by offering graduates a structured pathway to career certifications and workforce entry.
Located at Keaukaha Military Reservation in Hilo, JCA transforms YCA graduates into job-ready adults through partnerships with Hawaii Community College, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and industry partners offering certifications in CNA, construction (NCCER), culinary, and other trades.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
The Hawaii Job Challenge Academy is a 5-month residential vocational training program for Youth Challenge Academy graduates ages 17-20. As the fifth phase of Hawaii's National Guard Youth Challenge Program, JCA provides career certifications, workforce readiness training, and continued mentorship to help young adults successfully transition into employment or higher education.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Must be a graduate of Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy
- Ages 17-20 at program start
- Commitment to 5-month residential phase
- Drug-free status
- Willingness to pursue career certification or HiSET completion
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Structured military-style schedule includes wake-up, physical training, academic and vocational classes, meals, mentorship activities, and supervised evening study. Associates live on the Keaukaha Military Reservation campus with privacy partitions separating sleeping quarters. The program provides three meals daily and maintains the discipline and structure established during Youth Challenge.
Discipline Model
Continues the military-style discipline model from Youth Challenge Academy with structured routines, accountability, and peer leadership. Associates maintain uniforms, adhere to a code of conduct, and follow a chain of command. The focus shifts from basic discipline to professional workplace expectations and career readiness behaviors.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
Vocational certification focus; college credits available through Hawaii Community College and UH Hilo partnerships
Post-Program Pathways
N/A - vocational and workforce development focus
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Daily physical training continues the fitness foundation established in Youth Challenge. Activities include military-style PT, running, team sports, and outdoor activities. The program emphasizes maintaining physical fitness as a lifelong habit while associates focus primarily on vocational training and career development.
Facilities
Located at Keaukaha Military Reservation in Hilo, the campus features two 100-bed residential facilities with privacy partitions, dining facilities, classrooms, and access to partner training sites throughout the Big Island. Associates train at various locations including Hawaii Community College, partner employer sites, and community facilities for hands-on vocational instruction.
Note: Youth Challenge programs emphasize physical fitness as one of the Eight Core Components, focusing on building endurance, strength, and healthy habits rather than varsity athletics.
Related Schools
Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy
Kapolei, HI
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is a National Guard Youth Challenge Program that helps at-risk youth develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life-coping skills.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
To intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 - 18 year old Kentuckians and produce program graduates with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in society.
Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy
Carlin, NV
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.
Bluegrass Challenge Academy
Fort Knox, KY
The Mission of the Kentucky National Guard Bluegrass Youth Challenge Program is to intervene and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to excel as adults.
Capital Guardian Youth Challenge
Laurel, MD
The Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy (CGYCA) is a life intervention, dropout reintegration, and General Education Development (GED) preparatory program, run by the District of Columbia National Guard in partnership with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia.
Guides & Resources
National Guard Youth Challenge Academies: What to Expect
A parent's guide to Youth Challenge programs—free residential programs for at-risk teens ages 16-18 run by the National Guard.
Free Military Schools: Your Complete Guide to No-Tuition Options
Yes, free military schools exist. Public academies, charter schools, service academies, and Youth Challenge programs offer tuition-free military education—each with different requirements and trade-offs.
Military School vs. Therapeutic Boarding: Knowing the Difference
A critical guide for parents of struggling teens. We clarify the stark difference between the discipline-based structure of a military school and the clinical intervention of a therapeutic program.
Military Schools and ADHD: Why Structure Leads to Success
Discover why the structured, distraction-free environment of military schools often helps students with ADHD thrive. Learn about routine, small classes, and physical activity.
Transferring Credits: Will My Classes Count?
Understand how military school credits transfer to other high schools and colleges. Learn about regional accreditation, transcript evaluation, and how admissions officers view military school academics.
Leaving Military School: Withdrawal Policies, Refunds, and Transitions
What happens if military school isn't working out? Understand withdrawal timelines, refund policies, transcript handling, and how to transition back to traditional school.