Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Gillis Long
Carville, LA
"Empowering Youth for Success"
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
1999
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Louisiana
The Verdict
Located on a historic 330-acre campus that once served as America's only Hansen's disease treatment center, the Gillis Long Youth Challenge Program transforms at-risk Louisiana teens into focused, disciplined young adults. Since 1999, this free 17-month program has helped thousands of 16-18 year olds earn their HiSET credentials while developing life skills through a military-style residential environment.
Louisiana's YCP is one of the nation's largest, with approximately 25,000 successful completions across all three sites since the state program began in 1993.
About
The Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program (YCP) is an alternative educational program which offers adolescents (16 -18) an opportunity to change their future. Students looking for a way to succeed outside of a traditional school setting learn self discipline, leadership, and responsibility while working to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Louisiana resident between 16-18 years old
- Strong desire to complete a structured and disciplined program
- Voluntary participation (not court-ordered)
- In-person interview with recruiter
- Social security number documentation
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Annual Enrollment
225
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Cadets follow a highly structured military-style schedule during the 5.5-month residential phase. Days include academic instruction with certified teachers, physical training, life skills classes, and community service activities. Students attend school, receive individual counseling, and are supervised 24 hours per day. Weekly phone calls home and letter writing maintain family connections, with a Family Day event and extended weekend home pass during the cycle.
Discipline Model
Led by active and retired military personnel who emphasize discipline and education. The program operates as a military-style alternative education environment rather than a boot camp, focusing on self-discipline, personal accountability, and leadership development. Cadets learn followership before leadership through the eight core components: Academic Excellence, Physical Fitness, Job Skills, Service to Community, Health and Hygiene, Responsible Citizenship, Leadership/Followership, and Life Coping Skills.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
80%+ pursue education, employment, or military service
Post-Program Pathways
Graduates frequently enlist in military branches; not applicable for service academies
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 fitness is one of the eight core components. Cadets participate in military-styled physical training, running, and organized sports designed to encourage a lifelong commitment to physical wellbeing. The program emphasizes building physical strength and endurance as part of the overall transformation process.
Physical Activities
Facilities
The Gillis Long Center occupies 330 acres of a historic property along the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge. The campus features the Gillis W. Long Conference Center with over 41,000 square feet of renovated space including 70 private rooms, classrooms, conference facilities, and a library. Historic two-story covered walkways spanning over 2 miles connect campus buildings. The site includes a 9-hole golf course and outdoor training areas. The main campus also houses the National Hansen's Disease Museum and the historic Woodlawn mansion built in the 1850s.
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.
Photo Gallery
Related Schools
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Beauregard
Pineville, LA
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 to 18 year old youths, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Minden
Minden, LA
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 to 18 year old youths, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Mississippi Youth Challenge Academy
Camp Shelby, MS
The mission of the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Academy is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of sixteen to eighteen-year-old, male and females, who are struggling in the traditional educational environment and produce a program graduates with the values, life coping skills, education, employment potential and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Texas Challenge Academy
Eagle Lake, TX
The Texas Challenge Academy is a 5 1/2-month quasi-military residential academy sponsored by the Texas National Guard. It is a tuition-free educational program for 15 1/2 to 18-year-old teens who are disengaged in school, offering academic instruction, structure, and discipline to help cadets develop personal accountability and become successful adults.
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.
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.
Beyond the Uniform: Sports, Arts, and Extracurriculars
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Girls in Command: The Unique Benefits of Military Education for Young Women
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How to Evaluate a Military School Like an Insider
Tour like a pro. Read the handbook like a detective. Watch the mess hall like a spy. The complete guide to seeing past the polished presentation and finding the right school.