(2) The 12-month Post-Residential Phase TCA is a volunteer alternative education program for 16 to 18 year old youth who are not reaching their academic potential in their home high school. I left that school with confidence and pride a mile wide and went on to do things that still surprise me to this day. All ChalleNGe participants attend daily academic classes that increase math and reading comprehension and prepare them for General Education Development (GED) credential testing, credit recovery, or a high school diploma. Schedule your appointment online Texas ChalleNGe Academy. TCA offers a second chance for success to qualified students, without regard to race, sex, religious affiliation, or household income. They are supervised 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Responsible Citizenship 191 Texas Challenge Academy I $20,000 jobs available in Texas on Indeed.com. Ryan is now a responsible adult living on his own and perusing plans for attending college. On Sundays the cadets are allowed to worship, attend positive reinforcement events (if eligible) and participate in intramural sports. We are currently on a mission to fill our next class. Texas has one campus located in Eagle Lake, TX. All students are there voluntarily, have no felony convictions, are non-smokers and are drug free at time of entry to the program. Seaborne Challenge was the turning point for me, as most graduates will agree. FORMER AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT WORKING ON PREDATOR AND REAPER AIRCRAFT. North Texas I got my GED and while I was there I was inspired to serve my country as a Marine infantryman. I was honorably discharged from the Navy after nine years. Youth applicants are required to recruit a mentor; likewise, adults applying for the mentorship on their own are encouraged to refer a youth in need of the program. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. RPM Coordinator Phone: 979-234-3531 X 2013 Physical training may include strenuous activities such as: 1. The cadets can earn merits/promotions for additional privileges or receive demerits/rank reduction for improper behavior. Nurse In November, 2003, I enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 18. Step 3: Cadet Interview:  Once the TCA Recruiter has reviewed the cadet application and all supporting documents, the recruiter will schedule a face to face interview session with a campus cadre member. Watch video, INFO FOR MENTORS Note: Contact your local TCA Recruiter for all questions or email the admissions department. Texas Challenge Academy is a second chance at success for teens 16 to 18 who have dropped out of high school or who are in danger of dropping out. Phone: 979-234-3531 X 2015 Email Rachael Fields. Program Directors and other staff members review applications and interviews to determine which applicants may have a probable chance of program completion. For more information about the eligibility and requirements of a ChalleNGe mentor, see “Finding a Mentor.”, How to Become a Mentor for a ChalleNGe Cadet. Phone: (409)939-3772 Email: Click Here, Shirley Jones Has anyone ever said this to you? Throughout the year this person visits various locations across Texas and recruits youth. Interested in applying for our program? Sincerely, a happy mother and parent, Velma Vasquez. A daily run of one or more miles on a hilly course. To apply to become a mentor, please complete the Mentor Application. One of the major social challenges facing the nation today is the plight of teenagers that drop out of high school before graduation. Challenge achieves the greatest impact on disengaged youth by bringing in those best suited to benefit from the structured and disciplined residential environment. A daily run of one or more miles on a hilly course. It is possible that your location has already been scheduled and you may find a youth at one of the youth recruiting presentations. Phone: 979-234-3531 X 2002 The graduates of the 22-week residential program return home to pursue the goals developed during the residential phase and identified in their post-residential action (PRAP). Texas ChalleNGe Academy is a 5 1/2 month quasi-military residential academy sponsored by the Texas National Guard. This is why we encourage interested adults to apply even if they don’t have a specific youth in mind to mentor. We look forward to talking to you soon! Hello my name is Velma and my son is Danny Gonzales graduated the Texas Challenge Academy a few years back. In October, 2011, I was assigned to the Space and Warfare Command in San Diego. Increased self-esteem and self-discipline are gained through a combination of classroom activities, group discussions, and a structured living environment. My oldest daughter even remembers coming to visit me on family days. Email: Click Here, Shirley Jones Physical training will include strenuous activities such as: 1. Email: erojas@riceraiders.net, Patrick Mejia 3. Phone: (979)232-1594 Texas also opened a second campus in Eagle Lake, Texas in July, 2015. The Texas Challenge Academy is an education program of the Texas National Guard. All three branches are administered by the state Adjutant General, an appointee of the Governor of Texas, and fall under the command of the Governor. Does the Texas ChalleNGe Academy award high school diplomas? TEXAS! Yes! Proud parent of Steven Moore, Jr. HOURS OF OPERATION: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Mon-Fri) US MAIL or VISIT US: Camp Mabry 2200 West 35th Street, Building 31 Austin, TX … Participants who were unable to be successful in a traditional school setting learn personal responsibility and accountability for their choices that translates well into marketable post residential opportunities. Because of Texas Challenge Academy and Steven’s hard work, he took the oath to join the Air Force to train to be a pilot – a dream of his since childhood.”. TCA is a Department of Defense program through the Texas National Guard's Joint Counterdrug Taskforce. I was also able to earn my GED and graduate in June. As a young teenager, I didn’t make the right choices in life and I wasn’t “the model child” by far. Email: bgarza@riceraiders.net, Eliu Rojas Please follow all of the instructions carefully at the bottom of the PDF to submit the document electronically. My son, Steven, agreed to go, and he was made to see that he does have a future and that he is worth something. Mission 1130   Lunch 1500   Snack/Accountability Formation During the 12-month post-residential phase, the program staff is assisted by mentors who support the program graduates in sustaining the execution of their plans for the future. ChalleNGe provides youth with an experience based in solid life skills, reinforced through all phases with ongoing mentoring support. I look forward to seeing him succeed from here on out. Without Challenge, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”. Cadets develop strong character while identifying and applying individual moral and ethical standards to perform various roles and responsibilities in a structured group environment. He told us about Texas Challenge Academy. I am still utilizing the strong ethics and leadership skills that I received from Seaborne. 2. As cadets graduate the Residential Phase and progress into the Post- Residential Phase, mentors help them with the pursuit of their post-residential goals (living, education, employment, and/or military goals). We were at a point in our lives that we thought our son was not going to graduate at all, yet alone find a decent job. Email Jeremiah Metzgar, Lamont Porch Phone: a href="tel:1-979-234-3531">979-234-3531 X 2014 During the Residential Phase the cadets will develop their Post-Residential Action Plan (PRAP). The U.S. Government structure and processes, along with individual rights and responsibilities at the local, state and national level, are addressed in the classroom environment, in the student government process, and through practical experiences within local communities. What is the Texas ChalleNGe Academy all about? Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Service to Community We are a tuition free educational program for 16-18 year old teens who are disengaged in school. Both the mentor and the graduate must report monthly to their Case Manager. The experimenting led to drug addiction, running away from home, and dropping out of high school. We are now accepting applications for our July 2021 class in Eagle Lake, Texas. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. The program transitioned to the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program in 1999 and is now operated solely by the Texas Military Department. I was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force working on Predator and Reaper drone aircraft. They also begin Academic classes to recover/earn credits, prepare for the GED or earn their High School Diploma. The graduates will work with their mentors and Case Managers to maintain placement in continuing education (return to High School, vocational school or College), enlistment in the military, or employment. • TCA Careers, 600 HWY 3013 West, Eagle Lake, Texas 77434, David De Mers During my second deployment in August, 2006, I volunteered for the advanced party to go in and prepare the area before the rest of the battalion arrived. Evidence on the Effectiveness of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Phone: (979)232-1100 We sent a child and TCA is making him a man. Chris Smith – Mobile Outreach. After receiving a medical discharge, I returned to Austin and enrolled in Austin Community College on the GI Bill. Find out how mentoring supports the goals of ChalleNGe through the real-life stories of cadets, staff and experts in the field of mentoring. (Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Alicia Lacy) - P3RH39 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. The program is funded through the Department of Defense with matching funds from Texas and private foundations/donations. I decided to serve the State of Texas as a police officer. Email Dennis Daniels, Adrienne Bowers The admissions process includes turning in a completed application and participating in a personal interview with the student and possibly his/her parent(s) or guardian(s). Specifically, the “Texans Challenge Youth Foundation,” a 501(c) 3 organization, was chartered solely to raise funds for Texas ChalleNGe Academy. Adults who become mentors are usually approached by youth applying for the program. Passing the GED or receiving a High School Diploma are not required for graduation from the program. I would either end up dead on the streets or in jail at the age of 17. In January, 2003, I was accepted into SeaBorne Challenge Corps where I was selected as Squad Leader and Platoon Sgt. Watch video. On service to community days, cadet platoons participate in various services including the state’s Adopt A Highway program. “When my 16 year old son came home for his first liberty, we were so very proud of him. Adrienne Bowers The Texas ChalleNGe Academy training is physically demanding. The program requires a 17-1/2 month commitment. Reveille comes at 4:45 am, by 5:00 am the cadets are in formation for physical training, academic classes are from 7:30 am through 3:00 pm and Taps is at 8:45 pm. Our larger community is 3000+ members strong worldwide. These branches are the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard. Cadets learn how to identify and self-regulate emotions, such as anger, grief, frustration, stress and how to utilize conflict resolution strategies. Young men and women that volunteer to attend must be committed to completing the 5 1/2 month residential phase and the 12-month post-residential phase. Email the Texas Challenge Academy, Click here for job openings (click State Jobs under the position column):  TCA Careers. Their success is measured by productive placement in the following months. Forty-nine TCA cadets graduted from the 22-week residential phase of the alternative education program June 18, 2016, with some recovering high school credits, earning their high school diploma or GED or both. My husband and I went to the principal and told him we were out of answers and we had nowhere to go from here. Mentor Coordinator The candidates will receive instruction in Conflict Resolution, Anger Management, the Post Residential Action Plan, Customs and Courtesies, Sexual Harassment, Hygiene, a Healthy Lifestyle, Close Order Drill and Physical Fitness. TCA averages a 75% GED pass rate. And I as a parent along with his stepfather just wanted to keep supporting him in every way. It is vitally important in the recruitment/selection process to choose those individuals most likely to complete the program, thereby maximizing the program’s resources and providing the opportunity to a greater number of applicants. I’m currently an Environmental, Health and Safety Manger for Brock Service (industrial, construction contractor) at Chevron Phillips Chemical Plant in Baytown Texas. He now has self-esteem, self-worth, and pride in himself. The mission of the Texas ChalleNGe Academy is to reclaim the potential of young adults through education, training, mentoring and service to the community. Seaborne was an initiative of Texas A&M University at Galveston, the United States Navy, Americorps, and the Texas … Residential Phase – Upon successful completion of the Acclimation Phase the candidates are issued their uniforms and sworn in as cadets during a small acclimation graduation ceremony. Step 2: Application Packet:  Complete the "cadet application"  and provide copies of all supporting documents. If you are applying to mentor without a youth applicant, here are some ideas in finding a youth in need: Among your friends and associates you may discover someone who knows of a young person “spinning their wheels” in school, involved with a “bad crowd” of friends, having trouble in their home environment, at risk of dropping out of high school, or has already dropped out of high school. To provide a safe haven in which to learn and grow in a structured and disciplined residential environment. Central Texas Your IP: 45.56.94.164 In August 2018, the Sheffield campus was closed and consolidated into the Eagle Lake campus. Cadets realize the value and importance of giving back to the community while performing a minimum of 40 hours of service to the community and/or conservation projects in groups or on an individual basis. Cadets come from across the state of Texas with a full range of family backgrounds, education, and income levels. Cadets learn the value of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. Additionally, the academy offers credit recovery, credit by exam and GED testing. Commandant 1730   Retreat/ Accountability Formation Specific classroom activities focus on development of individual resumes, completing job applications, and preparation for and conduct of job interviews. See dates below to attend a zoom presentation. I can honestly say that without the encouragement and genuinely caring staff, I wouldn’t be where I am today…taking with me priceless memories and lifelong friendships. Of those, 14% are in the military, 32% are in various types of educational placement, and 52% are employed. RPM Coordinator The 8 Core Components are broken into tasks where cadets must show improvement or demonstrate mastery to successfully complete the program. But I never forgot where I found that confidence and the opportunity which unlocked that capability in me.