U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and David Perdue to Honor 25th Anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.424) honoring the 25^th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program (NGYCP). NGYCP is celebrating 25 years of providing successful, free and alternative education and structured discipline for at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18.

“For 25 years, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program has worked to foster the development of our youth in helping create the leaders of tomorrow,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to support the individuals at NGYCP and their efforts in providing educational and mentorship opportunities to our young people so they can prosper and succeed.”

“First started by Georgia Senators Sam Nunn and Saxby Chambliss, this program has helped thousands of youth discover their potential and set them on the path to a successful future,” said Senator Perdue. “I’m proud of the work the National Guard Youth Challenge program is doing here in Georgia to mentor and advocate for the next generation of leaders and our workforce.”

The forty current programs spanning twenty eight states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have been responsible for the graduation of more than 160,000 cadets and the awarding of over 110,000 academic credentials. NGYCP offers an opportunity to succeed outside of traditional high school environments for more than 10,000 cadets annually.

“I am extremely proud and honored to be part of NGYCP and especially proud to be part of an incredible team of 48 staff members at the Wisconsin ChalleNGe Academy here at Fort McCoy.  We could not be successful, however, without the leadership and support of Senator Baldwin and her team, as well as other state leaders and the National Guard leadership here in Wisconsin,” said Kevin Greenwood, Director of the Wisconsin Challenge Academy. “The Challenge Academy here in Wisconsin has been in operation since 1998 and has successfully graduated nearly 3,700 Cadets. The Wisconsin program is well respected nationally as a model program that has a reputation of upholding the traditions of the ChalleNGe philosophy and vision of its founders.  The Wisconsin program is recognized as a leader in embedding Character Development, Resilience, Grit, and “Soft-Skill” growth in Cadets attending the Academy to instilling life-long success skills that will benefit our graduates long after they have graduated from the program.  For the Wisconsin Challenge Academy - our measure of success and reward is seeing responsible, contributing, citizens for life.”

“I’m grateful for the dedicated individuals who are supporting the Georgia Youth Challenge Academies and helping thousands of young men and women in our state turn their lives around,” said Tina Coria, Chairman of the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Foundation. “We are proud that this remarkably successful program got its humble roots from forward-thinking Georgians, and continues to grow thanks to the leadership of Senator Perdue.” 

The NGYCP was born from the visionary concepts of utilizing a “whole person” intervention model to assist a generation of youth effected by gangs, violence, high dropout rates, and drug abuse. The program, which is funded through a Department of Defense-state cost-share, offers a unique opportunity for at-risk youth to change their course at a critical time in their lives.

More information on the resolution is available here.