By the Numbers In any given year, high school

dropouts can expect to earn $10,000 less than high school graduates — but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to the National Guard Youth Foundation, dropouts: • are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested, • comprise up to 70 PERCENT of the U.S. prison population, • have shorter lifespans, and • are less likely to marry, vote, or volunteer.

scholarship from the NGYF, which helps sup- port ChalleNGe graduates as they continue their education or join the skilled workforce. Beverly graduated from college with honors. “ChalleNGe changed my life,” says Lena, a

graduate of the Alaska Military Academy and an NGYF scholarship recipient. “It is the best decision I have ever made.” After studying at the University of Alaska Anchorage, she is well on her way to becoming an Alaska state trooper. “Something in these children at a certain

point clicked. They had been wandering streets, not getting anywhere fast. The jail door was getting closer and closer,” then-Sen. Mary Landrieu, who cochairs the Honorary Board of Directors for the NGYF, said when the fi nd- ings from the MDRC report were presented on Capitol Hill. “Something inside of them said, ‘Let me reach out for help,’ and when they did, the National Guard was there.”

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— Christina Wood is a Florida-based freelance writer. Her last article for Military Offi cer was “Unique Expertise,” May 2015.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the aver- age high school dropout costs the economy approximately $240,000 over his or her life- time in terms of lower tax con- tributions, higher reliance on Medicaid and Medicare, higher rates of criminal activity, and higher reliance on welfare.

Cadets conquer the rappel tower at the Virginia Common- wealth Chal- leNGe Youth Academy.

National Guard Youth ChalleNGe participants have donated nearly 8 MILLION hours of community service during the program’s 16-YEAR duration.

In addition, • 39 PERCENT continue their education, • 47 PERCENT join the work- force, and • 5 PERCENT join the military.

According to a cost-benefit analy- sis conducted by RAND Corp., every $1 spent on ChalleNGe yields $2.66 in benefits — a 166 PERCENT return on investment.