PHOTOS
California Jobs Challenge welcomes new class

Scholars arrive to brand new building.

One by one, the scholars pick up their luggage and maneuver up the concrete stairs. With each step, they are one step closer to a new dorm and one step closer to the rest of their life.

The fifty scholars, who arrived to Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, on Feb. 3, make up the California Jobs Challenge Class 4. The program is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy and serves as a follow-on program for graduates, ages 17-21, of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs.

Over the next few months, scholars will live in a new program dorm on Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, while completing in-depth learning at nearby Long Beach City College. They will live and learn in a bubble-like atmosphere while following strict COVID-19 safety protocols as they work to earn nationally accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman
California National Guard Public Affairs

Empty dorm room.

A dorm room is staged and prepared for California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars on intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, inside the program’s new building at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. The new building gives the program room to expand in the coming years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

A dorm room is staged and prepared for California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars on intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, inside the program’s new building at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. The new building gives the program room to expand in the coming years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Luggage sits in parking lot.

California Jobs Challenge scholars arrive for registration and intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

California Jobs Challenge scholars arrive for registration and intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Young lady does paperwork at desk outside.

Michelle Ramos, 17, completes her registration paperwork during the California Jobs Challenge Class 4 intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Michelle Ramos, 17, completes her registration paperwork during the California Jobs Challenge Class 4 intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Young man has bag inspected by Soldier.

A California Jobs Challenge scholar has his luggage inspected during registration and intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

A California Jobs Challenge scholar has his luggage inspected during registration and intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Young adults hold luggage outside building.

California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars arrive and move into a new building as construction nears completion, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars arrive and move into a new building as construction nears completion, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Young adults carry luggage into building.

California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars arrive and move into a new building as construction nears completion, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars arrive and move into a new building as construction nears completion, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Soldier talks on radio outside dorm room.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., talks on the radio as his platoon moves into their dorm, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., talks on the radio as his platoon moves into their dorm, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Soldier walks through dorm room.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., provides a welcome brief to the scholars assigned to him for the residential phase of Class 4, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., provides a welcome brief to the scholars assigned to him for the residential phase of Class 4, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Soldier walks through dorm room.

John Osborn, 18, of Agua Dulce, California, right, listens to a welcome briefing by Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, Feb. 3, 2021, during the California Jobs Challenge Class 4 registration and intake day at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

John Osborn, 18, of Agua Dulce, California, right, listens to a welcome briefing by Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, Feb. 3, 2021, during the California Jobs Challenge Class 4 registration and intake day at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Soldier walks through dorm room.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., provides a welcome brief to the scholars assigned to him for the residential phase of Class 4, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Detrick Harris, a California Jobs Challenge platoon sgt., provides a welcome brief to the scholars assigned to him for the residential phase of Class 4, Feb. 3, 2021, at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

Backpack hangs off end of dorm room bed.

A dorm room is staged and prepared for California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars on intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, inside the program’s new building at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)

A dorm room is staged and prepared for California Jobs Challenge Class 4 scholars on intake day, Feb. 3, 2021, inside the program’s new building at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. Scholars will live on the base, with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, while studying a particular career pathway. California Jobs Challenge is free 5.5 month post-secondary career technical academy for graduates of California’s three National Guard Youth Challenge Programs and is held in partnership with Long Beach City College. Scholars complete in-depth learning to earn national accredited certificates in a chosen career pathway including cyber networking, welding, healthcare, automotive, and construction. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)