Washington – In a National Press Club “Newsmakers” event today, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln joined education experts and Department of Defense officials to discuss a program that is making a difference in the lives of many young Americans—the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe.
“Since 1993, the National Guard Youth Challenge program has trained and mentored at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18 who have dropped out of high school, and put them on the path to become productive, employed, and law-abiding citizens,” Lincoln said. “For 22 weeks, these young men and women receive more than 200 hours of classroom learning designed to prepare them to take the General Equivalency Diploma exam. By focusing on leadership and job skills, the responsibility of citizenship and service to community, in addition to life-coping skills, academic excellence, and physical fitness, this program equips these young cadets with the tools to be successful for the rest of their lives.
“The numbers bear that out. Since its inception, more than 85,000 young men and women have graduated from the program nationwide, including more than 2,300 Arkansans. They received their high school degree, and many have gone on to college, earned productive jobs or joined the military.
“Earlier this year, I visited Arkansas’s program at Camp Robinson and met with current cadets and graduates, two who are now serving in the Armed Forces and one who is obtaining a doctorate degree. I believe in this program, which is why I introduced legislation earlier this year that would help Youth Challenge grow. I’m proud that, just last week, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act and with it, my proposal to expand the Youth ChalleNGe program to new sites and make a difference in the lives of more young people across the nation.”
Currently, the Department of Defense provides 60 percent of the funding while states are responsible for the remainder. Unfortunately, the current cap has restricted many states from establishing additional programs or building on existing programs. Along with additional funding, Lincoln’s proposal would help jumpstart Youth Challenge by fully funding new programs for two years and ensure that the federal government’s share is 75 percent in the future.
“I have worked with my Senate colleagues to provide additional and much-needed funding for the National Guard Youth Challenge this year. Eleven states are looking to create a program, while three states are looking to add a program. It is critical for the federal government to make these additional investments so that this valuable program can touch the lives of more young men and women across the country.”
Photo Caption: U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln speaks about the importance of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program during a National Press Club “Newsmaker” press conference in Washington.
