Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy, started in 1993 for at-risk teens ages 16 to 18 by Errol R. Schwartz, former commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, continues to change the lives of at-risk high school drop-outs each year.

The quasi-military program, a 22-week (approximately 5 ½ month) session held twice a year has an unchanged mission that states “to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth, and produce program graduates with the values, skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults.”

“We are a faction of the D.C. National Guard, that gives (teens) another possible avenue for what’s next in their life after leaving the program,” said Sgt. 1st Class Philip Burk, senior cadre team leader for the D.C. National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy. “Not only is there a focus on education and academic goals, but we are a quasi-military academy that provides a similar experience to what cadets would experience should they enter the military to help provide structure and discipline … they participate in physical training, drill ceremonies, and they wear uniforms with creases, shined boots and ribbons.”

Cadets, who are between 16 to 18 years-of-age, are also trained on responsible citizenship, service to community, job skills training and leadership and followership. To include interactions with members of the military community, like a recent May 4 visit to Joint Base Andrews to meet the men and women of the 113th Air Refueling Wing. Twenty six cadets received a ‘day-in-the-life’ from a variety of military technicians to include aircraft mechanics, security forces members, vehicle maintenance mechanics and civil engineers.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and a good visual for them to see that they can do many things within the military,” said Senior Airman Sierra Murphy, a structures journeyman who works in a carpentry shop within the 113th Civil Engineer Squadron.

“The career possibilities are open,” added Senior Airman Erik Young, a vehicle maintenance mechanic within the 113th Logistics Readiness Squadron. “You can get your hands on basically anything that will help (the U.S. military) achieve the mission.”

“We have some that have an interest in the military — and some that are on the fence — so once they get exposed to the many different things that the D.C. Air National Guard (for example) has to offer, then maybe we’ll have more serving the United States,” Burk said following the cadets tour.

Burk estimates 15 to 20 percent of Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadets eventually enter the military, like 16-year-old Amiyah Bullock, a cadet who already has aspirations to serve in the U.S Navy.

“Even since I was in the sixth-grade I’ve been fascinated with living a life on the water,” Bullock said. “I’d like to eventually be a cook on a massive ship. I already like to cook, and I’m good at it.”

In regards to how the program has prepared her for a career in the military, “This program not only gave me discipline and structure, but it also helped me manage my attitude better and understand that when times get hard, not to give up. I’m now able to encourage others,” she said.

But the Youth ChalleNGe Academy has fueled other aspirations for 18-year-old Nicholas Cary, who plans to enroll at the University of the District of Columbia and major in cyber security this fall.

“I’ve always liked technology, I’m actually fascinated by it,” Cary said. “And it remains in demand.”

As for how the academy changed his overall outlook, he said, “Looking at where all 26 in this class were when we started back in January to now, is amazing. The people who weren’t doing the right things have finally come around, and the people who were just beginning on the right track are doing even better. We recognize the bigger purpose for all of us.”

To learn more about the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy visit www.cgyca.org, or call 202-730-1579.

Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.