SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- With more than 5,000 people under the age of 18 arrested everyday, hundreds of at-risk kids lined up to join a six-month program run by the National Guard to get a second chance.
One of them is Michael Hernandez.
"Kinda feel crappy right now," says Hernandez. "I'm leaving my home, my grandma and my family."
But after ditching school and excessive partying, Hernandez says his life was heading down the wrong path.
"I looked at myself, at one point, and said 'What am I doing?" says Hernandez. "So I thought to myself, I had enough. I just need to go."
He appllied to the quasi-military boot camp called Grizzly Youth Academy. His cousin, Tim Miranda graduated the program last month.
"It just gives you discipline," says Miranda. "It teaches you to be self dependent. You don't rely on others."
After the 200 plus candidates complete medical, counseling and director briefings during intake day, they go through a final search then start their lives as Grizzly Youth Cadets.
"I have a job now and I'm working full time and trying to go to school," says Miranda.
The National Guard says more than 90% of their cadets successfully complete the program.
And Michael hopes to follow suit so he, too, can turn his life around.
"It'll just make me a better person," says Hernandez.
