Photo Caption: Jersey City resident Jose Cabrera, 17, braces himself as his eighteen inches of hair was cut during in-processing to the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program this Sunday, March 9.

As a part of the ChalleNGe Youth Program, young men must have their hair cut in the traditional military style. “Sitting in that barber’s chair was my second major step. My first was to enroll in the ChalleNGe Program to better myself,” said Cadet Cabrera. “Donating my hair to ‘Locks of Love’ made this process easier.”

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss. “Although I’ll miss my hair, it feels good to know that I am helping someone else feel good about themselves. I came to this program to get away from those situations that hindered me in achieving my goals. After completing the program, I would like to continue helping people by becoming a fireman in my community,” concluded Cadet Cadrera.

Since opening its doors in 1994, the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program has graduated more than 1,300 cadets. Based on a military structured format, ChalleNGe consists of a 22-week in-resident training and education program, which focuses on developing well-rounded, productive individuals. The Challenge Youth Program is a 17-month military style program, which includes a 22-week rigorous residential phase, located at Fort Dix, and a 12-month post residential phase. The program is for New Jersey youth who are high school dropouts between the ages of 16½ to 18. The goal of the Challenge Youth Program is to give students a second chance through a combination of a GED Curriculum, life skills, leadership and employment training.

The Challenge Youth Program is not a “boot camp.” Each student's curriculum is made up of eight core components: leadership and followership, community service, job skills, life-coping skills, educational excellence, responsible citizenship, health education, and physical fitness. Applicants must have eighth grade reading and math levels (verified by a placement test), be a legal resident of New Jersey; be between the ages of 16½ -18 (cadets can turn 19 while in the program); be drug and alcohol free, enter the program voluntarily, and must be free from legal involvement; including probation.

Individuals interested in the program should contact (609) 562-0577 at the New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program at Fort Dix. For more information about the program, you can also access the New Jersey National Guard Challenge Youth Program Homepage at: www.nj.gov/military/challenge/index.html.