NGB vice chief participates in LANG YCP graduation

By Spc. Joshua Barnett, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, travelled to Louisiana for a graduation ceremony for the Camp Beauregard Youth Challenge Program in Alexandria, Saturday, June 14, 2014. The Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program includes a 5-month residential phase where cadets learn self-discipline, leadership, and responsibility while working to obtain a high school general equivalency diploma (GED). Participants live and work in a structured and disciplined military like environment, which encourages teamwork and personal growth.

“It’s a fantastic day, 250 cadets from the Camp Beauregard Youth Challenge Program are graduating after 22 weeks. They’ve concentrated on academics, leadership, physical fitness, to give them a sense of the skill sets they need to be successful as they go back into their communities. We’re proud of them today, we really are,” Lengyel said. “The Louisiana National Guard has three very successful programs, it’s probably the biggest program in the country. I’m just proud to be part of it.”

As the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Lengyel assists the chief of the National Guard Bureau in ensuring that the more than half a million Army and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat capabilities to the Army and the Air Force. He also presides over the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff and, in the absence of the Chief, National Guard Bureau or at his direction, Lt. Gen. Lengyel performs the duties of the Chief.