THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 9, 1994                 TAG: 9407090254
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

BEACH BASE TO HOST PROGRAM FOR HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUTS

High-school dropouts can get a second chance in a Virginia National Guard program beginning this fall.

Teenagers in the ``Challenge'' program will live at Camp Pendleton, the National Guard's military reservation in Virginia Beach, for five months. While there, they'll be completing educational requirements for a General Educational Development certificate.

``These kids, we hope, are looking for military structure and will hopefully flourish and become productive citizens,'' said Col. Maynard K. Bean, the National Guard officer who guided the program through federal and state approval.

Bean said the young people will learn military discipline and take classes in everything from leadership to hygiene. They will be subject to random drug screening.

They will then be returned to their communities and overseen for a year by volunteer mentors who'll try to keep them on the right track. The youths also will receive help finding jobs.

Gov. George F. Allen announced the program Thursday. He said it will be funded by a $2.8 million federal grant for the first year.

``This is an excellent opportunity for our young people who are willing to change the direction of their lives and create a positive impact on their communities,'' Allen said.

The program is expected to involve 200 young people each year. Ten other states have a similar program, which was approved by Congress last year for a three-year trial.

The 100-member classes at Camp Pendleton will be composed of both males and females, who will attend classes together but will be housed separately.

The guidelines specify that the applicants be state residents, 16 to 18 years old, who are drug-free high-school dropouts and have never been convicted of a felony.

The students will receive $15 weekly for spending money, besides getting free room and board. Upon completing their stay at Camp Pendleton, the students will be eligible for a $2,200 stipend.

Bean emphasized the program will be different from the state Department of Corrections' boot-camp program, which is used as an alternative for young people under sentence for crimes.

``It will have a military look and feel, but it will not be a boot camp,'' Bean said. by CNB