Thunderbird Challenge Program is located within the city of Pryor in Northeastern Oklahoma. The Program is situated on the former Whitaker Education Training Center grounds and the entire Oklahoma Military Department property encompasses over 600 acres on the site.

For the first 22 weeks, cadets will reside at the Thunderbird Challenge Program campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (there are periodic weekend passes.) The purpose of this phase is to instill a sense of self-discipline, teamwork, resilience,  structure, and respect using a variety of methods and the military model built around the program’s 8 Core Components which are: Academic Excellence, Life Coping Skills, Job Skills, Health and Hygiene, Responsible Citizenship, Service to Community, Leadership/Followership, and Physical Fitness.

After graduation from the residential phase the cadets will transition into the 12 month post-residential phase, This phase consists of case managers from Thunderbird Challenge Program contacting the graduate on a monthly basis to ensure they are continuing to maintain their improvements and building on their success in their lives outside of Thunderbid.