REPRESENTATIVE RYAN GUILLEN

PRESS OFFICE

Seaborne ChalleNGe Corps

A Youth Education Program of Texas National Guard

by Representative Ryan Guillén

AUSTIN, TX -- This week I want to help inform students and parents of one of the many educational opportunities offered by the state of Texas. The Seaborne Challenge Corps is an alternative education program available to students between the ages of 16 and 18 who are not reaching academic potential at their local high schools.   

The Texas Challenge Program uses a military training model to target at-risk youths with the highest potential for reversal.  The program works to provide its students with the tools and experience necessary to succeed as productive, employed, and tax-paying citizens. 

The program offers paths to attainment of a GED and the foundation for the possibility of post secondary education The current class has a vocational aspect which trains the cadets in roofing, welding, and machinist operation.

The students who participate in these training programs will, upon completion of the course work, be certified to work in those areas. Many of the students who have completed the program on roofing have been hired directly by the company which helps provide the course.

This program also provides a pathway into all three branches of military, and has a stringent military style regimen which incorporates discipline and structure to education and physical fitness. It also concentrates on many of the areas of potential employment including résumé building and mock interviews.

This program is open to students who have no felonies and who are considered at-risk of dropping out. It is a voluntary process so no one there has been forced into the program due to disciplinary or other issues. But, as a voluntary program, the students are expected to follow the guidelines for the program.

Seaborne Challenge Corps is funded through cooperation between the state of Texas and the Department of Defense and National Guard Bureau. Therefore there is no cost to the student. The program is 22 weeks with two long weekend breaks and a 12 month post residential phase monitored and supported by a trained Seaborne mentor.

Applications are accepted year round on a first come first served basis. I encourage all who feel this program could be beneficial to them to look at the website http://www.ngycp.org/state/tx/  or contact them through their toll free number 866-732-2676.