Youth Challenge Program "doing great things"

The National Guard Youth Challenge Program in Pierce has been a resounding success through its first year of operation, helping cadets improve an average of three grade levels in just 22 weeks.

Richard Turner, executive officer and legislative liaison for the Idaho Military Division, said of the 151 cadets to graduate so far, 81 percent are either back in school or working in the military or private industry.

“The youth in our second class had an incredible increase in the Test of Adult Basic Education assessment – an average of 2.9 grades or three school years,” Turner said, during a presentation Wednesday to the House Transportation and Defense Committee.

The Youth Challenge Program helps Idaho high school dropouts ages 16 to 18 get their lives back on track, preparing them either to return to school or find employment. It includes a 22-week residential, boot camp-style session followed by a year of mentoring.

“Our two inaugural classes also performed more than 5,800 hours of community service,” Turner said.

Legislation authorizing the program squeaked through on the last day of the 2011 and 2012 sessions. Given its unique nature, lawmakers also included a July, 2015, sunset clause.

However, a bill introduced in the Transportation Committee Wednesday would eliminate the sunset provision and allow the program to continue into the future.

Committee Chairman Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, choked up when describing the graduation ceremony for the first Youth Challenge class.

“Obviously it was very emotional,” he said. “I was very impressed. What they're doing up there is great things.”