New Mexico National Guard Youth Challenge Academy

Cadets follow a highly structured military-style schedule throughout the 22-week residential phase. A typical day begins with physical training at 0500 hours (5:00 AM), followed by morning chow and GED/HiSET academic classes. Afternoons include vocational training and community service projects. The environment is designed to eliminate outside distractions—cadets have no access to personal cell phones, social media, television, or radios. Family communication is limited to encourage focus on personal development, though designated Family Days and mail correspondence are permitted. The program runs two cycles annually: mid-January through mid-June, and mid-July through mid-December.

NMYCA operates in a quasi-military environment that emphasizes structure, accountability, and self-improvement through the chain of command. The program is explicitly NOT a boot camp, detention center, or treatment facility—participation is entirely voluntary, requiring buy-in from both cadets and their families. The Academy maintains a strict tobacco, drug, and alcohol-free environment with mandatory testing. Cadets progress through ranks and earn privileges based on demonstrated growth across the eight core components: academic excellence, physical fitness, health and hygiene, citizenship, life coping skills, job skills, leadership/followership, and service to community.

Daily physical training is a cornerstone of the NMYCA experience, beginning each day at 0500 hours (5:00 AM). Physical fitness is one of the eight core components of the program, with all cadets required to participate regardless of prior fitness level. The PT program is designed to build endurance, strength, discipline, and teamwork through military-styled physical training, running, and organized sports—instilling a lifelong commitment to physical wellbeing. Additional physical activity occurs through drill and ceremony practice, community service projects, and structured recreation.

The Roswell campus features newly renovated military-style barracks, academic classrooms, physical training areas, drill fields, and vocational training spaces. The partnership with Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell provides access to additional educational resources. The rural New Mexico setting offers ample outdoor space for physical training, drill practice, and team-building activities.