The Show-Me Challenge Program is strictly voluntary and is designed for "at-risk youth" between the ages of 16 and 18. The boy or girl must be a high school drop-out or at risk of dropping out of school and/or be unemployed or underemployed. They must submit to drug testing and be drug free to be eligible. They cannot currently be in any legal trouble or have a criminal record more serious than a juvenile offense. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident. There are no income qualifications and no cost to the participant or their family because the Program is fully funded with federal and state money. Also, there is no requirement that the individuals join the military after they complete the program.

The Program focuses on core curriculums designed to build the whole person. The areas included in the curriculum are academic excellence, physical fitness, job skills, leadership/followership, health, sex education and nutrition, life-coping skills, responsible citizenship and community service. For example, the youth are taught how to fill out forms like employment applications and how to open a bank account as part of the life-coping skills portion. They are required to complete 40 hours of community service and as part of this requirement they have cleaned up after high school football games in Nevada and they also volunteered to work on the traveling Viet Nam Wall when it was in Nevada. They also visit the local nursing home and spend time visiting with the residents or reading to them.

The Program also stresses discipline and has a quasi-military theme which includes drill and ceremony, marching, organized physical education, etc. The cadets are required to wear uniforms, maintain grooming standards and live on-site in dorms. They are provided three meals per day and they receive an allowance of $15 per week to purchase sundries or pay for things.