The Army National Guard is proud of the outreach programs that have been implemented recently. The Army National Guard has launched two youth programs to help those that may be at risk. The two programs are Forward March and About Face.

About Face Program for At-Risk Youth
Giving young people the tools they need to succeed
About Face! provides at-risk youth the tools they need to stay in school and get a job. We teach the skills employers tell us they want. Our "learn to do by doing" philosophy means students practice these skills in a real-life setting.

In About Face! young people focus on life skills such as interpersonal relationships and critical thinking. They also practice skills such as using a checking account and planning meals. Then we give them the basic work skills they need to find a job. Finally, they learn the top 20 basic skills that business owners tell us they need for entry-level positions.

The program is offered after school and in the summer, providing positive structure at the times when at-risk youth are most apt to be involved in crime. A limit of 25 students per session ensures everyone is active in class.

National Guard units across the nation have taken part in About Face! At-risk youth benefit from exposure to National Guard activities and role modeling. The National Guard meets their community based outreach mission while improving the quality of life for young people.

Forward March Program for Young Adults
Preparing young adults for work
This hands-on program teaches adult men and women job and life skills so they can make the move from welfare to work. Forward March participants also practice job-search skills and business skills in a real-life setting.

Forward March provides adult men and women with the real-world skills they need to be employable. They practice skills such as computer literacy and critical thinking in a real-life setting, allowing them to see how they can use those skills in work and in life.

The program is designed to help adults find and keep a job and build career goals. Participants learn about exploring careers, looking for a job and being an effective employee. Our 10 to 1 student/instructor ratio allows for personal attention and maximizes interaction. Students receive both traditional and computer assisted instruction. Students are regularly evaluated and counseled on how they are applying the skills they learn. 

Operation Forward March has served more than 10,000 older youths and adults with a job placement rate nearly double the national average.

The program has been successfully co-hosted in Florida, Rhode Island, Mississippi and Hawaii by a collaboration between the National Guard, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.