Sooner Job Challenge
Oklahoma City, OK
"DREAM, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE"
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
2025
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Oklahoma
The Verdict
Launched in January 2025, the Oklahoma Sooner Job Challenge Program represents the newest addition to the National Guard's Job Challenge initiative, now active in eight states. This optional five-month residential program serves graduates of the Thunderbird Challenge Program, providing tuition-free career training and industry-recognized certifications through Metro Technology Center in Oklahoma City.
Living by the motto "Dream, Believe, Achieve," associates develop Graduate Action Plans while pursuing career pathways in welding, culinary arts, and information technology/cybersecurity, with additional tracks planned as the program expands. The program builds upon the foundation established during the 22-week Thunderbird residential phase, transforming at-risk youth into credentialed professionals ready for high-demand industries.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
The Sooner Job Challenge Program (SJC) provides selected Thunderbird Challenge Program graduates with a High School equivalency diploma and quality Career and Technical Education leading to industry-recognized certification.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Graduate of the Thunderbird Challenge Program
- Age 17 to 21 years old
- Voluntary enrollment
- Physically and mentally capable of full participation
- Drug-free at time of enrollment
- Commitment to career development and job placement
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Annual Enrollment
60
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
dorm
Daily Schedule
Associates follow a structured schedule that balances classroom instruction at Metro Technology Center with career-focused training, physical training, community service, and team-building activities. The five-month residential program maintains the military-style structure established during the Thunderbird Challenge Program while shifting focus toward career readiness and vocational skill development. Associates work with staff to develop Graduate Action Plans, selecting training and certifications to maximize their skills and enhance their resumes for job placement, continued education, or military service.
Discipline Model
The program continues the quasi-military discipline model established in the Thunderbird Challenge Program, emphasizing personal accountability, leadership development, and professional conduct. Associates are expected to maintain the life skills and self-discipline developed during their initial 22-week residential phase at Thunderbird. The environment balances structure with increased autonomy appropriate for young adults preparing to enter the workforce, with emphasis on workplace readiness, professional behavior, and career success habits.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
The Sooner Job Challenge Program focuses on career placement rather than traditional college matriculation. Associates can work toward their high school diploma, GED, or HiSET with academic support while pursuing industry-recognized certifications. Each associate completes tasks leading to placement by graduation, whether in jobs, continued education, or the military. The program partners with Metro Technology Center to provide vocational training in high-demand industries.
Post-Program Pathways
While the program focuses on career training and workforce entry rather than service academy preparation, military service is one of the three primary placement outcomes. Associates interested in military careers receive support in preparing for enlistment. The program builds upon the National Guard Youth Challenge foundation, and many graduates of the broader Oklahoma National Guard youth programs have successfully enlisted in various military branches.
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Physical training remains a component of the Sooner Job Challenge experience, building upon the fitness foundation established during the Thunderbird Challenge Program. PT activities focus on maintaining physical readiness and instilling healthy habits while balancing the program's primary emphasis on career training and vocational skill development. Team-building activities and physical challenges reinforce discipline, teamwork, and the resilience needed for workforce success.
Facilities
The program operates through Metro Technology Center in Oklahoma City, utilizing career training facilities and classroom spaces for vocational instruction in welding, culinary arts, and information technology/cybersecurity. Associates have access to industry-standard equipment and training environments that prepare them for immediate employment upon graduation. The residential component provides housing and structured living arrangements that maintain the military-style environment established at Thunderbird.
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
Thunderbird Youth Challenge Program
Pryor Creek, OK
To intervene in the lives of Oklahoma's high school students to affect a positive change in those youth through Challenge, Respect and Education.
New Mexico National Guard Youth Challenge Academy
Roswell, NM
Through training, discipline, and mentoring, the New Mexico National Guard Youth Challenge Academy provides the education, leadership, character development and life coping skills to New Mexico's youth so they may become 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.
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.
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.
Enrollment Logistics: From Interview to Move-In Day
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The Alumni Network Advantage
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Not Just for 'Troubled' Teens: The Leadership Advantage
Military school isn't a punishment—it's an accelerator. Learn how today's military academies develop tomorrow's leaders through challenge, mentorship, and opportunity.