New WA Youth Academy looking for recruits

It's like a restart button for young people on the verge of real trouble. But it comes at a price.

The Washington Youth Academy, the state's free and voluntary academic and community service boot camp for at-risk teens ages 16 to 19, is looking for recruits for its inaugural class of 150.

Coursework starts in January. The program will have two residential classes a year with room for 150 cadets each.

But because it's free doesn't mean it's easy. The program, located at the Kitsap Readiness Center, is a year-and-a-half attitude adjustment with 22 weeks of living first hand the boot camp values of mental and physical fitness, perseverance and team work. The graduate isn't a soldier, but a solid citizen with an eye toward a career.

If a student commits to working for a brighter future, the staff at the quasi-military program say they can help with the rest.

"It's our job to get them through it," said William Pettit, director of the academy.

He stressed although the program uses military virtues, cadets are not abused and they are not taught to be soldiers.

It might be just what David Chamberlin of Bremerton needs to nudge him onto the straight and narrow. He and his mother attended an open house for the program Wednesday. And after the presentation he said he was open to joining, with one reservation.

It's not that he isn't intelligent - Chamberlin loves to read and he's interested in politics - but there is something that has held him back in school.

The 18-year-old Chamberlin dropped out of North Kitsap High School last year. His class graduated last June without him. He wants to join the Marines, but he can't report to their boot camp without a diploma, he said.

"High school was not for me, I don't know why," he said.

His mom puts it more bluntly.

"He's one of the smartest kids I've ever met," said Rachel Weaver. "He's too smart for his own good."

Weaver speaks from experience. She dropped out of school and joined the National Guard.

"He's just like me, he's stubborn and he wants to do it on his terms and his way," she said. "But my way is very, very hard."

The program offers cadets the chance to earn eight credits toward graduation. The three paths are either a diploma from Bremerton High School, which stations the teachers, a jump-start back at their home school or a GED with a push toward higher education.

"This is an environment where they will be held responsible for everything they do," said Don Evans, a Bremerton High School teacher who with a team of other Bremerton teachers will be providing he academic core of the residential program.

But the real challenge is the 52-week course that comes after the residential phase, in which cadets re-enter their communities with the help of a mentor.

But the 22-week residential component is often an early wake-up call.

Discipline and physical fitness will be provided by a cadre of instructors, most with military experience.

Cadre supervisor David Layne, who retired from the Army as a first sergeant and spent 10 years at Louisiana's youth academy system, said the primary obstacle for a cadet's success is taking the plunge.

"The biggest shock is being homesick, that's the bottom line," Layne said.

And missing his girlfriend is Chamberlin's concern, he said. Girlfriends and boyfriends aren't allowed to visit during family days.

"It's still up in the air, but as of now I'll say I'll do it," Chamberlin said.

Requirements for admission are residency in Washington, having dropped out or been expelled, no felony convictions and no ongoing legal action and being drug-free at time of enrollment.

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On the Net:

For more information on the program, and for an application, go to http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/wa

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Information from: Kitsap Sun, http://www.kitsapsun.com/