An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NGYF and Civil Air Patrol Partner to Provide Aviation and Aerospace STEM Training to National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program

  • Published
  • By Ashley Saunders
  • National Guard Youth Foundation
ALEXANDRIA, Va. --  The National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) is partnering with Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, humanitarian organization, to launch an aviation and aerospace-focused science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education initiative for cadets of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program.

The new initiative provides STEM training resources to all ChalleNGe participants across the country to prepare cadets for the job market's growing demand for employees with STEM skills.

"We are committed to helping the young men and women of the ChalleNGe program prepare for the workforce and to make sure they find a pathway to a fulfilling and self-sustaining adulthood," said Louis A. Cabrera, president of NGYF. "Partnerships like the one with Civil Air Patrol are absolutely critical to providing ChalleNGe participants exposure to career opportunities in high-demand fields, and we are grateful for their involvement and investment in the kids."

The CAP aviation and aerospace STEM programs include more than 40 educational products in areas, such as, astronomy, flight simulation, model aircraft and remote control, robotics and rocketry. These programs will be available at no cost to the more than 12,000 participants of the ChalleNGe program in 27 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

"CAP is proud to be able to work in alliance with the National Guard Youth Foundation to help provide stimulating and engaging CAP STEM education products and programs to the Youth ChalleNGe cadets. Finding ways that CAP's unpaid professionals across the nation can work in mentorship with the ChalleNGe cadets is paramount to the success of the programs CAP will provide to the youth," said Maj. Gen. Joe Vazquez, CAP's national commander.