National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy

The New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy is the state's premier leadership program, shaping our leaders of tomorrow. Through training, discipline, and mentorship, the academy empowers young people with education, leadership abilities, character, and life skills to grow as productive members of their communities.

The Journeys of Youth

Meet cadets Wyatt and Aliyah of Nevada's Youth Challenge Academy. They each have incredible journeys. 

Wyatt is 15 years old. He used to be addicted to drugs and alcohol, and dropped out of school in 8th grade. Aliyah is 17 years old. She had a bad relationship with her parents, and her best friend committed suicide on her 14th birthday. Life happened to each of them, and they dreaded the idea of going to the Youth Challenge Academy when the traditional routes of education were looking bleak. However, they didn't have an alternative. They both attended -- and Wyatt was even a runner (a term for cadets who try to run away from the academy during their enrollment). 

The Youth Challenge has utterly transformed them. Both Wyatt and Aliyah are smart, humble, and polite. Both of them could’ve ended up on the streets if they hadn't joined this program. When asked if they would've found a way out of their broken lives without the Youth Challenge they both responded with a resounding "No, sir." 

Now they both get straight As. Wyatt is so stoked to join the Marines. Aliyah is excited to begin her studies as a dental hygienist. I asked them what advice they would give their younger selves. 

Wyatt: Don't be afraid to grow up. 

Aliyah: Don't grow up too fast. 

Similar reflections, each with opposing emphasis, both transformed from what they once were. 

Angela’s Story

Lt. Col Angela Romero shared a powerful story about the impact of the Youth ChalleNGe: 

At risk of not completing high school the traditional way, Rebekah Shaffer enrolled in the Academy. After completing 22 weeks of education and training, Rebekah graduated on Dec. 13th with a GED, certification as an automotive technician with a useful set of life skills. 

Rebekah's achievement in graduating is a distinction she now shares with her mother, Laura, who graduated from the same program in 2003. "I came to the Youth Challenge Academy because I was at a point where I felt lost and impulsive. I didn't fit in with the typical public-school environment, I was having trouble listening to my parents, and I had gotten into legal trouble and was unsure about how to turn things around," Laura said. "The Challenge seemed like my last chance to get things right, a chance to reset my life. And it did. I had the opportunity to earn my GED, and become a Certified Nursing Assistant. These accomplishments opened doors for me, giving me the qualifications I needed to find work and start building a stable future. The Challenge didn't just change my mindset, it helped me learn how to trust my judgment and develop self-confidence."

Laura went on to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. She has been a traveling nurse, a flight nurse, neonatal intensive care nurse, and is now a department manager at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. She was recognized in worldwide Style magazine's "The Bad Ass 50: Healthcare workers who are saving the day." Now, Rebekah plans to start working and enroll at UNM, and eventually join the U.S. Navy as a Gas Turbine Systems Technician.

Angela’s story about Laura and Rebekah is a clarion call reminding us that nothing is impossible, and all of us have greatness within. If you think the Youth Challenge Academy could be a good fit for your child, your nephew, your goddaughter, whoever, most states have one. See the full list here.