The structure of AOC's outcome-based evaluation methodology is consistent with guidance and requirements as stipulated in the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and measures overall program effectiveness using templates designed around the President's Management Agenda.

In 2003, NGB began a long-range initiative to address improved program management and accountability of ChalleNGe, a Youth-At-Risk program sponsored by the National Guard Bureau. The goal of this initiative is to provide a standard framework for individual State programs to develop goal oriented State plans with goals that are realistic, measurable and results-oriented.

These goals are directly linked to the annual budget. Annual assessments of the individual program sites are performed by AOC staff and identify the level to which these goals are achieved/not achieved. Performance accountability is then associated and reviewed in relation to expenditures.

The AOC evaluation process assesses the implementation of the State Plan at each ChalleNGe site. Cadet performance, and other on-going program quantitative data is analyzed and reported throughout the year.

AOC completed program data migration and transition to the site of a web-based data management and reporting system (DMARS) developed specifically by AOC for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Data integrity is at the heart of the AOC Quality Assurance efforts. DMARS serves as a controlled access repository and retrieval point for all required ChalleNGe Program information.

Using a hierarchical model for access, program staff and other authorized users are able to enter data, and download and print standard and ad hoc reports on program data based upon their access profile. Reports with common utility can be easily shared within and among programs. The use of a configuration control process allows everyone with access to DMARS to provide input for modifications to the system to enhance the products used for program management.