With the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy moving to Kalaeloa on Oahu, the former Youth Challenge Academy in Hilo will become the Hawaii Job Challenge Academy-Hilo.
It still will be associated with the Hawaii National Guard and will still assist some Hilo residents, but it will change its mission, becoming an additional, optional phase of the Youth Challenge program.
The Youth Challenge Academy at Kalaeloa will now be the only program offering the basic challenge program, still open to 16- to 18-year-old, at-promise youth to learn the life skills necessary to become responsible, successful and productive citizens and affording them the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency diploma.
“The Hilo program is changing due to low enrollment,” said Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, Hawaii adjutant general. “However, all interested applicants from Hilo will still be able to participate in the basic challenge program at our Kalaeloa campus. Then they have the option to continue in the program and return to Hilo for the final phase, the Job Challenge Academy.”
The Hawaii Job Challenge Academy in Hilo will accept applicants who have completed the basic challenge program at Kalaeloa or past classes from the Hilo campus. Job Challenge participants must be between 16 and 20 years of age on the first day of the Job Challenge residential phase. Preference will be given to participants from the immediately preceding Youth Challenge class.
The new Hilo program also will recruit statewide from previous Youth Challenge classes. And the Kalaeloa program will also recruit statewide to fill its ranks.
The new Job Challenge Academy-Hilo also gives Youth Challenge graduates the opportunity to gain a post-secondary education credential, such as a certificate of course completion, as well as an industry-based certification that they can use as currency in the job market or an apprenticeship as an entry point into an occupational trade.
Like Youth Challenge, Job Challenge instruction will be in a quasi-military environment.
Primary trade certifications include: construction industry, certified nurse’s aide, medical assistant and dental assistant.
All Job Challenge participants will receive secondary certifications in natural disaster preparedness training and driver’s permit/driver’s education. In addition, they can also choose a secondary certification in small engine repair, unmanned aerial vehicles/drones and food service.
All Job Challenge participants will earn college credits that they can further build on toward an associate or a bachelor’s degree. Finally, additional college-based credentials also enhance military enlistment eligibility, affording applicants a choice from a fuller range of occupations and potentially a higher pay grade on entry for those who choose to enlist in the military.
Some of the partners of the Job Challenge Academy are Hawaii Community College, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Institute of Healthcare and Training Services, Associated Builders and Contractors, the American Red Cross and Hawaii Rise Foundation.