Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy

When they need to go down a different path...

Indiana’s Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy is located in Knightstown. The academy offers military-based training to 16-18 year-old youth who are at-risk, unemployed or underemployed, crime-free and drug-free, and who have not graduated from high school. HYCA trains and mentors these youth to develop the values, skills, education and self-discipline to become successful young adults.

The free program is a 17.5 month commitment, which includes an in-depth screening process, two-week acclimation phase, five-month residential phase and a yearlong post-residential mentorship phase to help graduates with career and life goal achievements. The Academy is ideal for high-school-age youth who are not on a disciplined path to learn the skills they need to change the outcome of their current life situation and to graduate from high school. There is NO MILITARY OBLIGATION for those who participate.

HYCA is part of the National Youth Challenge Program established in 1993 by the National Guard. There are 40 Youth Challenge Academies in the United States. Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and former Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger established the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy in 2007.