Youth Challenge Academies (National Guard)
National Guard Youth Challenge Program academies offering at-risk youth ages 16-18 a path to earn their GED or high school diploma through military-style training.
37 institutions listed
Challenge Academies by State
Browse Challenge Academies (37 programs)
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
Tuition-free 22-week National Guard Youth Challenge program at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for at-risk Alaska youth ages 16-18. Coed, residential, founded 1994.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
Free 22-week Kentucky National Guard Youth Challenge program in Grays Knob for at-risk 16-18-year-olds: GED completion, high school credits, and trade certifications.
Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy
Carlin, NV
Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy in Carlin is Nevada's tuition-free National Guard program for at-risk youth ages 16-18 — 22 weeks of credit recovery and life skills.
Bluegrass Challenge Academy
Fort Knox, KY
Free 22-week Kentucky National Guard Youth Challenge program at Fort Knox for at-risk 16-18-year-olds: GED completion, credit recovery, and 12-month mentoring.
Capital Guardian Youth Challenge
Laurel, MD
Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy (CGYCA) is a free 22-week residential program in Laurel, MD, where the DC National Guard helps teens 16-18 earn a GED or diploma.
Commonwealth Challenge Youth Academy
Virginia Beach, VA
Commonwealth Challenge is Virginia's tuition-free National Guard Youth Challenge program in Virginia Beach — a 22-week residential phase of GED prep, life skills, and discipline.
Discovery Challenge Academy
Lathrop, CA
Discovery Challenge Academy in Lathrop, California, is a free 22-week residential National Guard program for teens ages 16-18 at risk of not graduating on time.
Florida Youth Challenge Academy (Closed 2026)
Starke, FL
PERMANENTLY CLOSED (June 2026). Florida Youth Challenge Academy was a free 22-week residential National Guard program at Camp Blanding near Starke, FL, for ages 16-18 who had dropped out or fallen behind. The Florida National Guard ended the program after 25 years, citing operational demands; Class 50 graduated June 9, 2026, and no further applicants are accepted.
Freestate Challenge Academy
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
Freestate Challenge Academy is a tuition-free 22-week residential National Guard program at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, helping at-risk teens earn a GED.
Georgia Youth Challenge Academy - Fort Eisenhower
Fort Eisenhower, GA
Fort Eisenhower Youth Challenge Academy near Augusta, GA, is a free 22-week residential program where youth ages 16-18 earn a high school diploma. Classes start April and October.
Georgia Youth Challenge Academy - Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart, GA
Fort Stewart Youth Challenge Academy is Georgia's original free 22-week residential program for youth ages 16-18, with vocational training and 9,000+ graduates since 1993.
Grizzly Youth Academy
San Luis Obispo, CA
Grizzly Youth Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo is a free 22-week residential California National Guard program helping at-risk teens ages 16-18 earn a diploma or GED.
Hawaii Job Challenge Academy
Hilo, HI
Hawaii Job Challenge Academy in Hilo is a free 5-month residential vocational program for Youth Challenge Academy graduates ages 17-20 seeking career certifications.
Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy
Kapolei, HI
Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy in Kapolei is a tuition-free 22-week residential program for at-risk youth ages 16-18. Over 5,000 graduates since 1994.
Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy
Knightstown, IN
Tuition-free National Guard Youth Challenge program in Knightstown, Indiana. The 22-week residential course helps ages 16-18 earn a GED or diploma and build life skills.
Idaho Youth Challenge Academy
Pierce, ID
Tuition-free National Guard program in Pierce, Idaho for at-risk teens ages 15½-18. Cadets earn up to 14 high school credits in a 22-week residential phase.
Keystone State Challenge Academy
Annville, PA
Keystone State Challenge Academy is a free 22-week National Guard residential program at Fort Indiantown Gap for Pennsylvania youth ages 16-18 earning a GED.
Lincoln's Challenge Academy
Rantoul, IL
Lincoln's Challenge Academy in Rantoul is Illinois' free 22-week National Guard program for ages 16-18 — the nation's largest single-site Youth Challenge academy.
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Beauregard
Pineville, LA
Free 22-week residential Youth Challenge program at Camp Beauregard in Pineville for Louisiana youth ages 16-18. HiSET/GED prep, life skills, and discipline since 1993.
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Minden
Minden, LA
Free 22-week residential Youth Challenge program at Camp Minden near Shreveport, Louisiana. Cadets ages 16-18 earn a HiSET/GED in a structured military-style setting.
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Gillis Long
Carville, LA
Free 22-week residential Youth Challenge program at the Gillis Long Center in Carville, south of Baton Rouge. Louisiana youth ages 16-18 earn a HiSET/GED.
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy
Battle Creek, MI
Tuition-free National Guard program in Battle Creek for at-risk Michigan teens ages 15.5-18: a 22-week residential phase plus 12-month mentorship toward a diploma or GED.
Mississippi Youth Challenge Academy
Camp Shelby, MS
Tuition-free National Guard program at Camp Shelby for Mississippi teens ages 16-18. 22-week residential phase leads to a GED or diploma; 11,600+ graduates since 1994.
Montana Youth Challenge Academy
Dillon, MT
Montana Youth Challenge Academy is a tuition-free 22-week National Guard program in Dillon for Montana teens ages 16-18, on the University of Montana Western campus.
Mountaineer Challenge Academy
Kingwood, WV
Tuition-free 22-week West Virginia National Guard residential program where at-risk youth ages 16-18 earn a high school diploma. Campuses in Kingwood and Montgomery.
New Jersey Youth Challenge Academy
Sea Girt, NJ
The New Jersey Youth Challenge Academy (NJYCA) is a free 22-week residential program for at-risk youth ages 16-18, run by the National Guard at Sea Girt since 1994.
New Mexico National Guard Youth Challenge Academy
Roswell, NM
Free 22-week residential National Guard program in Roswell for New Mexico youth ages 15.5-18, combining HiSET prep with 12-18 college credits through ENMU-Roswell.
Oregon Youth Challenge High School
Bend, OR
The Oregon Youth Challenge Program is a tuition-free 17-month National Guard program in Bend for teens 15-18—22 residential weeks plus mentoring toward a diploma or GED.
Puerto Rico Youth Challenge Academy
Juana Díaz, PR
The Puerto Rico Youth Challenge Academy is a tuition-free 22-week residential program in Juana Díaz for at-risk youth 16-18, awarding a full high school diploma.
Sooner Job Challenge
Oklahoma City, OK
Tuition-free five-month career-training program in Oklahoma City for Thunderbird Challenge graduates ages 17-21, with certifications through Metro Tech. Opened 2025.
South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy
Eastover, SC
South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy is a free National Guard residential program in Eastover for ages 16-18, offering GED preparation, mentoring, and job training.
Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy
Los Alamitos, CA
Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy in Los Alamitos is a free 5.5-month residential California National Guard program where teens ages 16-18 can earn up to 65 high school credits.
Tarheel Challenge Academy
Salemburg, NC
Tarheel Challenge Academy in Salemburg, NC is a tuition-free 22-week residential National Guard program for ages 16-18 who have dropped out or are behind in school.
Texas Challenge Academy
Eagle Lake, TX
Texas Challenge Academy is a tuition-free 5.5-month Texas National Guard residential program in Eagle Lake for teens 15½ to 18 earning a diploma or GED.
Thunderbird Youth Challenge Program
Pryor Creek, OK
Thunderbird Youth Challenge is a free 22-week National Guard residential program in Pryor Creek for off-track Oklahoma teens. Nearly 6,000 graduates since 1993.
Washington Youth Challenge Academy
Bremerton, WA
Tuition-free 22-week National Guard residential program in Bremerton for at-risk Washington teens ages 15-18, offering up to 8.0 credits of high school credit recovery.
Wisconsin Challenge Academy
Fort McCoy, WI
Free 22-week National Guard residential program at Fort McCoy for at-risk Wisconsin teens ages 16-18. Operating since 1998; 87% of cadets earn an HSED.
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