1. SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY
“BEATING THE ODDS…
ONE YOUTH AT A TIME “

2. Mission statement
The mission of the South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Program is to form a strong partnership with youth between the ages of 16 and 18 years old in creating and maintaining a viable plan for their educational and career goals while reaffirming the skills and talents they possess.

3. The South Carolina National Guard currently operates the Youth ChalleNGe Program, a community based program, located on the southeastern side of Fort Jackson at the McCrady Training Center on Leesburg Road in Eastover, SC
There are 33 programs in 27 states , DC and Puerto Rico. Since 1993 , over 135,00 at risk youth have graduated and turned their lives around and have gone on to be productive citizens. The number of programs and graduates continues to increase annually.
South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe enhances life skills, education levels, employment potential and prospects for the future by providing opportunity for participants to obtain their GED, or return to high school.
About the program

4. The eight core components
Life Coping Skills
Academic Excellence
Health and Hygiene
Job skills training
Leadership/Followership
Physical Fitness
Responsible Citizenship
Service to the Community

5. Accepting the Challenge !!
The Youth Challenge is a 17 month program broken down into two phases: 22 week residential phase and a 12 month post-residential phase paired with a trained community mentor.
The 22 week residential phase gives the cadets the chance to change their basic life styles

6. Eligibility requirements
Legal U.S. resident and S.C.
16-18 years old, males and females
Hgh School dropout, potential dropout , or has been expelled
Unemployed or underemployed
Drug Free (students are tested and retested
Not a convicted felon, nor under felony indictment
Physically and mentally capable of completing the program

7. Additional certifications and training opportunities offered
Resume writing
FAFSA Assistance
College Campus Tours
Work Keys Testing
ASVAB Testing
Drivers Ed Training
3 D Print Course
Serve Safe Certificate

8. Post Challenge
Fifty interested and eligible Youth ChalleNGe graduates will have the opportunity to attend Aiken Technical Community College and learn a job skill in less than six months. The Major emphasis is to help graduates learn skills, prepare them personal success, and become employed as contributing members of their communities.
Tower Tech 1
Basic Welding
Basic Operator in Production
Computer Networking
Patient Care Assistant
Cadets successfully completing one of these programs can earn from 16 to 24 credit hours from Aiken Tech.