By JOHN BURNETT Hawaii Tribune-Herald
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Military pomp and circumstance, a maile lei untying, messages from Hawaii dignitaries and a Hawaiian blessing by Kahu Moses Crabbe marked the unveiling Friday of the Hawaii National Guard Job Challenge Academy at Keaukaha Military Reservation in Hilo.

The program has already graduated a cohort of 12 — eight men and four women, all graduates of Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy. It’s set to welcome its second class on Tuesday, with 23 associates — nine women and 14 men.

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Associates in the 5-month-long academy can earn professional certification in construction, forklift operation, real estate, certified nurse assistant, medical assistant, dental assistant or completion of HiSET — Hawaii’s high school diploma equivalency program.

The program is open to Youth Challenge Academy graduates — known in the program as “at promise” youth — between the ages of 17 and 20. Associates eat, sleep and train in the same complex on KMR that used to house YCA, which now has just one location, Kalaeloa in Leeward Oahu.

Retired Hawaii Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, the state’s Civil-Military Programs director, delivered the keynote speech Friday. He said a 2011 study found that Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy graduates were more accomplished than a control group of non-Youth Challenge youngsters of similar backgrounds.

“They found that the Youth Challenge group had attained a higher level of education … and two grade-level improvements in their pre-tests in just five months,” Oliveira said. “And they earned more college credits. They also had higher employment, and they had higher earning, about 20% more than the control group.”

Oliveira said that for many Youth Challenge grads, Job Challenge — which is a quasi-military program like Youth Challenge — is a sensible next step.

“Our cadets here at Youth Challenge, from Day One to the day they graduate, they are told what to do. When to wake up, when to go to sleep, when to eat, when to go to the bathroom,” he said. “They’re just told, and it becomes automatic for them. But then they graduate, and the very next day, they’re back home, and nobody’s telling them what to do. And they’re a little lost at that point.

“So, having a program like this, Job Challenge, helps with the transition … and we reinforce all those behaviors that we’ve worked so hard to get them to.”

Job Challenge Academy Pathway Partners, who provide curricula, instructors, employment services and other support, include the American Red Cross, Associated Builders and Contractors of Hawaii, Big Island Driving Academy, Coursera, Employment Experts, Hawaii Community College, Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, Hawaii Institute for Healthcare and Training Services, Ho‘ola Farms, Ho‘ola Massage Academy, Hoku’s Nurse Aide Training Program, ITC Learning, University of Hawaii at Hilo and Waisted by Kayc.

In a written message read during the ceremony, U.S. Rep Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii, District 2) called JCA “a bridge to personal growth and professional success.”

“As one of only seven such programs in the entire United States, this innovative program offers critical support of professional development of our young adults by continuing a transformative pathway for Youth Challenge graduates,” Tokuda wrote. “Participants gain tangible professional credentials in career paths that hopefully ignite their passion and potential.”

Gov. Josh Green, through his East Hawaii representative, Amy Miwa, said JCA grads “will be prepared to contribute to our state in meaningful and impactful ways.”

“This program is not just about developing job skills. It’s about empowering individuals to build better futures or themselves, their families and loved ones, their communities and those around them,” Green wrote.

Micah Alameda, executive assistant to Mayor Kimo Alameda, said the county looks forward to working with the Hawaii National Guard “to get our youth ready for tomorrow.”

“We live on the most magnificent island in the world. Sorry to our brothers and sisters from Maui and Oahu and Kauai and Lanai and so forth,” Alameda said. “Hawaii Island is 4,028 square miles, and we change and we grow, every single day. And much like the Hawaii National Guard, we have to know when to adapt, adjust our sails. We’re all in this wa‘a together, right?”

After the ceremony, Kolby Proctor, JCA’s director, expressed his gratitude to the program’s partners and vendors, as well as to the community.

“A big part of this blessing ceremony was to involve the community and let them know that we are a new program here, to support the Youth Challenge graduates through a time of possible uncertainty,” Proctor said. “We are here to build our next generation of employable young adults to help to contribute to the island and state’s economy and workforce.

“We would like any potential vendors that would like to partner with us either in offering work certification classes or employment services to contact the academy to set up a meeting.”

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.