The Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA) is an accredited special purpose school that runs several programs designed to help Alaskan youth make positive life changes. The Academy is a division of the Alaska Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. The largest and best known of the Academy's programs is its ChalleNGe Program. Although ChalleNGe is military in structure and style, it is not a "boot camp". While there is plenty of physical training, structure and discipline, there is also an intense academic and skills development curriculum.

Other Academy programs include a State of Alaska testing center, a Workforce Development training site and the state's largest mentoring program. Our purpose is best spelled out through our vision and mission statements.

The vision of the Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA) ChalleNGe Program is to provide a premiere program attracting, retaining and serving youth who are at risk of not receiving their secondary education. With a quasi-military emphasis, and modeled after the positive leadership style of our nation's finest military service academies, we will provide the highest quality, basics-oriented educational opportunity in the state while offering the greatest possible opportunity to participate for youth from every region, city, town, and village, thereby strengthening all of Alaska's youth and their communities, and contributing to a strong and prosperous future for both Alaska and America.

The Alaska Military Youth Academy is Alaska’s Premier Youth Leadership Academy developing the leaders of tomorrow.

AMYA partners with youth ages 16-18 to develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life coping skills to assist youth with their academic and future success.

The AMYA ChalleNGe Program is a course designed to help young Alaskans achieve high school completion and develop the life skills necessary to be successful in today's American society. The AMYA ChalleNGe course closely follows a national model called the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. ChalleNGe is comprised of a 22-week mentally and physically demanding residential phase, followed by a year of follow-up and support to help students (cadets) maintain positive lifestyles. Unlike "boot camps" ChalleNGe includes demanding academic, healthy life skills and teamwork elements along with a strong volunteer adult mentor program to support students.

During the residential phase, students live in upgraded military barracks, attend school, and participate in a rigorous curriculum designed to instill healthy, life-long skills that have been time-proven to lead to success.

During the post-residential phase, students are required to be in school, working, or both, and must report monthly to the Academy's mentor program staff. Students are also required to maintain contact with their adult volunteer mentors.

Young Alaskan men and women *16 through 18 years of age may apply to AMYA for admission to a ChalleNGe Program class. Applicants must provide proof of United States citizenship or legal residency, may not have a traditional high school diploma or GED, be willing to commit to a drug, alcohol and tobacco-free life while enrolled, be free of legal entanglements and must be volunteers. (*15 year old qualifies if they will turn 16 during the 22 weeks they reside on campus, youth may turn 19 during the same time but must be age 18 on the start date)

No young man or woman can be "sent" to an AMYA ChalleNGe course. Most importantly, applicants must have a desire to move their lives in a positive direction and must have made the decision to make a healthy change in their lives.

ChalleNGe student life is very different from that lived in the "civilian" world. ChalleNGe cadets get up early every day. They participate in physical training, technical and job-related skills training, academic classes and special programs before turning in late each evening.

Students enrolled in the ChalleNGe Program are not allowed to have any personal audio-visual devices (including, but not limited to, cell phones, CD players, MP3 players/Ipods, televisions, video games, tape recorders or personal message devices of any kind). Students wear only authorized AMYA uniforms and are not allowed to have personal vehicles at the school.

All meals are prepared by AMYA dining service staff and all medical services are provided by, or through, school medical personnel. On weekends, students participate in a variety of activities that range from family visits to volunteer service to Alaskan communities or those in need, or adventure-based character-building training.

Non-uniform clothing, like all the other items not allowed at the Academy, is a distraction from learning that does not help the student move forward to success. Personal clothing, hair styles, cell phones and other personal items may be nice to have and use, but are not necessary to success at the Academy.

AMYA is an accredited school and youth can earn 7 high school credits (some can earn more). Most students finish the program with a high school diploma by examination (a GED). Others earn a traditional high school diploma (if they meet the Alaska graduation standards). In addition to traditional academic subjects, the ChalleNGe Program curriculum includes for-credit courses in health, citizenship, leadership, teamwork, job skills training, cooperative work experience and positive life skills. All ChalleNGe students are required to pass all courses with a grade of C or better to successfully complete the academic portion of ChalleNGe.

Applicants and parents are urged to discuss possible academic directions with AMYA staff before entering a ChalleNGe course.

As part of its skills training and job preparation curriculum, the Academy workforce development coordinator organizes a wide-ranging cooperative work experience (CWE) program, runs a carpentry class, a culinary arts class, a CompTIA A+ certification class, a private pilot ground school course (with the Elmendorf Air Force Base Aero Club), an in-depth military studies course, a college study skills course, and a series of short courses designed to make AMYA graduates more marketable in the work world.

All cadets develop military-related skills through a leadership development curriculum and the academy's adventure-based learning program. All ChalleNGe cadets must also become CPR & First Aid qualified while enrolled in the residential phase.

Adventure (Green Line) Training is an assortment of activities designed to provide interesting, fun and useful outdoor and/or military-interest activities to broaden the perspective and experience of the cadet attending the Alaska Military Youth Academy. Generally, Green Line training is held every weekend for one of the three platoons of the Corps of Cadets. Look under “About us” elsewhere on this website for more information.

Yes. ChalleNGe students may compete for a variety of scholarships to help them continue education, training or to get started in life. Scholarships are competitive and some are based on specific requirements.

In addition to the wide array of ChalleNGe activities, the school supports a student government, a cadet chain of command, and a variety of committees and special activities groups that students are encouraged to participate in.

No! While some graduates of the ChalleNGe Program do join the United States Armed Forces, becoming a cadet does not require anyone to enlist. As a cadet, you will be introduced to recruiters from all branches of our military services. You will also be introduced to a wide variety of other educational, training, and employment possibilities.

A cycle (or class) refers to the 22 week residential portion of the program. Youth reside on campus for this time. Youth all start and end together. AMYA runs two cycles per year, every January and July. The next few cycles are as follows:

2027-1 = January 19, 2027 - June 16, 2027 (admissions begins in August 2026)

2027-2 = July 20, 2027-December 15, 2027 (admissions begins in February 2027)

2028-1 = January 18, 2028 – June 14, 2028 (admissions begins in August 2027)

2028-2 = July 18, 2028 – December 13, 2028 (admissions begins in February 2028)

Youth can only attend and COMPLETE one cycle of a National Guard Youth Challenge program. Youth who did not successfully complete a cycle may apply to another cycle.

AMYA is tuition free to Alaskan youth and their families. AMYA is funded through the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska. 

AMYA is located on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, just outside Anchorage. More specifically, AMYA is located on Camp Carroll within JBER.

Once accepted, families will receive an acceptance letter with reporting instructions. For youth n the Anchorage/Matsu area youth will report directly to the Anchorage admissions office. For youth outside reasonable driving distance/off the road system: AMYA will pay for flight transportation to Anchorage. Youth are picked up at the airport and transported to campus by AMYA staff. If a youth wants to leave within the first 21 days of the cycle, it will be the families responsibility to purchase a return flight home. AMYA will purchase a flight home for those who graduate (complete the cycle).

If accepted, families are provided an acceptance letter that includes an approved packing list. Youth are required to bring a state or federally issued photo ID. Currently there are no other required items to attend. AMYA provides all items necessary to participate.