Youth Protection Academy

A paid security internship for students 14–17.

Built for high-schoolers who want a real head start. Learn awareness, de-escalation, and professionalism from working officers — earn a weekly stipend while you do it — and walk into a licensed officer role the year you turn 18.

Ages 14–17

Guardian approved

Paid stipend

Never armed

View training courses

Program at a glance

Length: 10 weeks per cohort (6 weeks in summer)
Hours: 6–12 hrs/week, after school & weekends
Stipend: $75–$175/week + $250 completion award
Where: HQ classroom + supervised low-risk sites
Cohort size: 12–16 students

No experience needed. We select for character, reliability, and curiosity — not resumes.

Stipend & schedule

Paid from week one

Stipends are paid every other Friday by direct deposit to the student or guardian account. Hours follow state youth-labor limits and never conflict with school.

Phase 1 — Foundations

$75 / week

Classroom weeks, 6–9 hrs

Phase 2 — Shadow rotation

$125 / week

Supervised site visits

Phase 3 — Capstone

$175 / week

Project + evaluations

Completion award

$250 bonus

Paid on graduation

Fall 2026 cohort

Dates: Sep 14 – Nov 20, 2026

Tue & Thu 4:30–7:30 PM + 2 Saturdays

12 seats

Winter 2027 cohort

Dates: Jan 11 – Mar 19, 2027

Mon & Wed 4:30–7:30 PM + 2 Saturdays

12 seats

Summer 2027 cohort

Dates: Jun 14 – Jul 30, 2027

Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

16 seats

The program

Four phases, age-appropriate throughout

Every student moves through the same structured path with written feedback at each stage — and a guardian check-in before advancing.

Apply with a guardian

Students submit an application with parent or guardian approval. We verify age, school standing, and any required work permit before the cohort starts.

Foundations classroom

Three weeks of after-school sessions: situational awareness, de-escalation, professional communication, report writing, and the ethics of protection work.

Supervised shadow rotation

Observe real operations — front desk, dispatch, event access control — always at low-risk posts, always alongside a vetted supervisor. Never armed, never alone.

Capstone & career pathway

Present a safety plan, earn a certificate of completion, and get first consideration for a licensed officer role the month you turn 18.

What you gain

By graduation day

Certificate of completion and a written supervisor reference
CPR / first-aid and emergency-response fundamentals
Real workplace habits: punctuality, reporting, radio and radio-log discipline
Priority interview for a licensed officer role at age 18
Community-service and school credit hours where the district allows

Safety for minors

Every mentor is background-checked and trained on working with minors
No firearms, no armed posts, no high-risk assignments — ever
Two-adult rule on all shifts; no one-to-one unsupervised contact
Guardians receive a weekly progress email and can end participation anytime

FAQ

Parent & student questions

Seats are limited each cohort

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students apply with a guardian's approval — we respond within five business days.

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