Contact an admissions counselor to reserve a seat for one of our Open Houses or Statewide Orientation Sessions.

Click Here For Upcoming Orientations

All Candidates MUST attend at least one Open House or Orientation before enrollment.

NOTE: You may complete your application and send it in before you attend the Orientation or Open House. This will allow us to process faster, and get you a decision, sooner.

Step 1: Visit our Application page. Read every page of the application carefully.

Step 2: Complete the application either online or as a downloadable pdf.

Ensure you have completely filled out  the application and that it is signed by the by Parent/Guardian and applicant. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Candidates MUST have a full Physical done before in-processing. If you are completing the form online, complete it to the best of your abilities and mail in supplementary documentation.

(please see the bottom of this page for details about mailing or faxing the application).

Step 3: Ask!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact an admissions counselor for assistance.

When mailing the application to your admissions counselor, send a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, social security card and shot record.

DO NOT send the original documents, only copies will be accepted.

If you are unable to locate your social security card, or do not have a Virginia ID card, you must apply for a new one.

You are required to submit a copy of your social security card to enter the program.

A state ID card or federal ID card (military dependent ID) will be required to take the GED.  You should apply for either of these ID cards in advance of attending ChalleNGe.

You are required to have a full physical PRIOR to reporting to Challenge. If you are under the care of a medical provider to include:

• a medical doctor

• a therapist

• a psychologist or

• a psychiatrist

— for any condition, diagnosis, or daily prescription medication —

you must send a doctor’s release indicating that your are physically and or emotionally able to participate in all aspects of the program.

If you are on probation, your probation officer must sign the Legal Information Form, and attach his/her business card.

You must provide the Academy with a copy of all court documents regarding any involvement with the legal system.

We cannot accept anyone with a felony charge or conviction, or a “deferred entry of judgment”, unless the felony had been reduced to a misdemeanor and/or the deferment is completed and the charges have been dropped or expunged.

All applicants must identify and nominate their own mentor for the program.

Use the mentor worksheet for assistance. The mentor worksheet explains the requirements that mentors must meet, and provides ideas for how to select a good mentor.

Applicants may also submit their mentor nominee’s completed mentor application along with the cadet application for admission into the Academy.

But, you can also send your cadet application to us before the mentor application is completed. Either way, however, we need to receive the mentor application no later than the class start date for which you are applying.

NOTE: The mentor may also send the mentor application to us directly.

(please see the bottom of this page for details about mailing or faxing the application).

When you have fully completed your application, we recommend making a copy for your records prior to mailing it to the Academy.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. We ask that you please only submit fully completed candidate applications. After you submit the completed application, you will be scheduled for your Pre-Processing Day.

You can submit your application in one of four ways:

-Scan and email it to admissions@vachallenge.org
-Fax it to 757-491-2146
-Mail it to:
Commonwealth Challenge
253 C Street, State Military Reservation
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
-Bring in your application in person to our office
(Office Hours are 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday)

Once the applicant has been reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee,the applicant will be scheduled for their Pre-Processing Day. The Pre-Processing Days will take place during the week three weeks prior to the start of each class. One of our admissions staff will call you to schedule your time and date.  The Pre-Processing Day will consist of:

-Orientation
– 50 Minutes of “Cadet Life,” which will simulate your day to day life as a Cadet
-Interview
-Medical Check-In
– Briefings (Director, Deputy Director, Lead Teacher, RPM, Parent Association)

There will also be a review of any legal issues.

The applicant, their parent/guardian, and mentor will be required to report to the ChalleNGe Academy at an established date prior to class start date for in-processing.

At this time, the applicant will be checked in by both admissions and medical. The parent/guardians will receive in-processing briefs and the mentor will complete the required mentor training.