Youth Leadership Program - FBINAA, Arkansas Chapter

2025 Youth Leadership Program Representative Aubrey McConnell with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2024 Youth Leadership Program Recipient Kelsey Hancock with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2022 Youth Leadership Program Recipient Gavin Reardon with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2019 Youth Leadership Program Recipient Riley Langston with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2018 Youth Leadership Program Recipient Ashley Drew with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2017 Youth Leadership Program Recipients Stafford McQuerrey and Jadyn Howard with ARFBINAA Executive Board

2016 Youth Leadership Program Recipient Jacob Cook with ARFBINAA Executive Board

The Arkansas chapter is pleased to be actively involved in the FBI National Academy Associates Youth Leadership Program. The Youth Leadership Program (YLP), hosted by the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), provides high school students with an immersive 8-day advanced leadership training experience. This program is designed to build skills, resilience, and a commitment to service and social responsibility among young leaders. The program includes academic, fitness, and hands-on experiences. The participants are sponsored by their state chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates, and spend the week in our nation’s capital and at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. is seeking qualified youth who have demonstrated above average academic standards, as well as good citizenship, to participate in a week-long program of leadership development in our Nation’s Capitol, including the FBI Academy at Quantico.

This exciting opportunity is offered in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Individual participants are selected and sponsored by the various state chapters of the FBINAA, who will pay transportation and lodging costs related to the program. Further, the counselor and instructional staff for the program are all National Academy graduates and members of the FBINAA, Inc.

Although the program is not limited to young persons interested in a future career in law enforcement, interested candidates should possess a desire to gain knowledge in American Government, leadership, criminal justice (including leadership function), criminal law, and the structure and operation of our criminal courts.

Deadline to apply is February 2, 2026.

Click here for YLP information.

Open to both male and female candidates, regardless of relationship to an active member of the FBINAA, who meet the following basic qualifications:

Rising high school sophomores & juniors who will be 14, 15 or 16 years of age at the start of the YLP session (June 2026)
Must have an equivalent of a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale
Must have a satisfactory school attendance and citizenship record.
Must be physically capable of participating in all elements of the YLP
Must have health insurance

Program Overview

The YLP is a competitive, no-cost program for high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors (ages 14-16 by program start date) who demonstrate strong academic performance, high level of fitness, and dedication to their community. Sixty-two students are selected annually from the U.S. and around the world to participate. Under the guidance of experienced law enforcement professionals, participants engage in intensive coursework and real-world exercises to develop their leadership capabilities.

Application Information

Applicants should contact their local FBINAA Chapter and coordinate with the Chapter YLP Coordinator for specific information on that Chapter’s application process. The YLP Coordinators are your resource for applying to the program, providing applications, and answering any questions regarding the process. Students must write their application essays independently; the use of AI tools is not permitted, and submissions will be reviewed with AI-detection measures to ensure authenticity.