The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is a preventive rather than remedial at-risk youth program, which targets participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16 to 18 years of age. Select 19 year olds who will graduate before turning 20 are eligible. The core components of the program are: Responsible Citizenship, Academic Excellence, Life-Coping Skills, Service to Community, Health and Hygiene, and job Skills Training. The 22-week Residential Phase, is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth’s community.