the youth challenge program is a program for at-risk youth run by the national guard of the united states, which consists of youth challenge academies (known as yca's) in each participating state. the stated mission of the youth challenge program is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." the program accepts 16- to 18-year-old male and female high school dropouts who are drug-free and not in trouble with the law. the program lasts for 17½ months. the first 5½ months are part of the quasi-military residential phase. the last 12 months are part of the post-residential phase. most participants will earn their ged or a high school diploma by the end of their residential phase.