Graduation

On Wednesday, June 7th, 2017, some of the best law enforcement officers I have ever had the pleasure and honor to know graduated from the FBI National Academy, Session 268.  The shortcomings in my vocablulary become evident when I try to put into words how great a priviledge it was to train with these men and women from all over the world.  I truly enjoyed my time in their compnay.

I would like to thank a few people specifically:

Thank you to Chief Bill Partridge for nominating me over a year and a half ago.  I appreciate the faith and trust you bestowed upon me and I will never forget that.

Thank you to Captain Steve Palmer for your patience and guidance over the last year or so.  It was a tough year but you stuck with me and we got through it. 

To my roomate, Paul O'Keefe.  Sir, I couldn't have asked for a better roommate.  I knew when I asked you on the first night if you enjoyed cigars and you said yes that everything was going to be ok.  You truly are a gentleman and a class act.  Thank you.

To Chris Sandoval.  I greatly enjoyed our friendship and comradery.  My life has been blessed by knowing you.

To Jimmy "Cornbread" Phelps, thank you for your kindness and potentially being one of the few guys more country than I am. 

To Nick Armold.  To the one guy who may have smoked more cigars than I did...thank you for you friendship.  I know for a fact that the folks in Portage, Michigan, are in good hands.

To Moe Robinson III, thank you for your service as Section 5 representative.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for being the only other guy who knew what a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Toro Gordo cigar was.  I was impressed.  ;-)

To Special Agent Todd Richards.  Sir, you were truly a great counselor to Section 5.  We couldn't have asked for anyone better.  You were one of us.  I know we were all blessed by you.  Thank you very much!

To the NYPD crew, you guys are a class act through and through.  You represented the NYPD and New York very well.  Thank you!

To John Russo.  Way to represent brother!  You did an awesome job!

To Dan, Leena, JD, Richie, Mike, Mark, Shannon, Dave, Chris(s), Orlando, Oliver, Ben(s), Andre, Anton, Simon, Kim, and many many more...thank you!  I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.  Call me if you need me.  God Bless you all.

Last but certainly not least; thank you to my friends and my family for sticking by me through thick and thin.  Bobby Yancey, if it weren't for you, it is very likely I wouldn't be where I am today.  I have not and will not forget what you did for me during the death of my grandmother and my divorce in 2016.  To Debbie Reaves, my mother, thank you for raising me to believe in noble concepts such as honor, loyalty, character, and justice. 

Thank you to my girlfriend Stacy Carr.  It has been a very difficult road to travel over the last 10 weeks but we have made it through.  Thank you for all you have done while I was gone.  I love you. 

The Yellow Brick Road

Getting my Yellow Brick from Section 5's Counselor SA Todd Richards

On 6/6/2017, FBINA Session 268, completed the Yellow Brick Road.  Here's a brief description of the Yellow Brick Road:

National Academy graduates fondly recall their experience on the “Yellow Brick Road.” The final test of the fitness challenge, the Yellow Brick Road is a grueling 6.1-mile run through a hilly, wooded trail built by the Marines. Along the way, the participants must climb over walls, run through creeks, jump through simulated windows, scale rock faces with ropes, crawl under barbed wire in muddy water, maneuver across a cargo net, and more. When (and if) the students complete this difficult test, they receive an actual yellow brick to memorialize their achievement. The course came to be known as the “Yellow Brick Road” years ago, after the Marines placed yellow bricks at various spots to show runners the way through the wooded trail. The overall fitness challenge began at the National Academy in 1981 and has evolved over the years; we started awarding yellow bricks in 1988.

I have to say that the Yellow Brick Road was harder than I expected but it was also the most fun of all the challenges.  It had a little of everything.  Hills, obstacles, road running, and so on.

Waiting to Start the Yellow Brick Road

Getting on the Bus

Acting FBI Director, Andrew McCabe, speaking to us before the Yellow Brick Road

One of he Windows

One of Several Rope Obstacles

and this is what you get what you make it through the Yellow Brick Road:

My yellow brick, there are many like it but this one is mine.

Next up is GRADUATION!!!!

Week 9 Complete

SAC George Piro and I at Texas, Night

Week nine has come to a close.  It has been a busy week with final papers and projects being turned in.  Last Monday, May 28th, 2017, many FBINA students participated in the Murph Challenge in honor of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal killed in Afghanistan in 2005.  This was not an official FBINA challenge per say but something the students wanted to do to as a personal challenge.  The "Murph" consisted of:

• 1 Mile Run
• 100 Pull Ups
• 200 Push Ups
• 300 Squats
• and another 1 Mile run with a 20 pound vest. 

I did not personally participate in the "Murph" as I am satisfied with the regular physical training curriculum.  LOL.  I have GREAT respect for those who did!  I was told it was beyond grueling!

Our PT for Wednesday, May 31st, 2017.

Section 5 conducted student led PT on Tuesday.  We performed many, many, reps of squats, kettle bell swings, and pushups.  My rep count was 60 push ups, 70 squats, and I think 40 or 60 kettle bell swings.  Push ups and kettle bell swings were not that bad but the squats smoked my legs!

Wednesday rolls around and Steve Mellor, our FBINA PT instructor, has us perform the excercises listed in the picture above.  This has a "name."  Something like, "The 400", "Death", "Heart Attack", "You Don't Need Legs Anyway", "Ability to Walk is Overrated."  You know, something like that.  That was Wednesday.  It is now Saturday as I type this and my legs are STILL sore!

Speaking of Steve, Section 5's PT instructor....  When you meet him and speak to him, he gives the impression that he is an easy going guy.  At first, we thought we were lucky to have Steve for PT and not those "crazy" hard other instructors.  Right!  Steve is an incredibly professional, nice, and intelligent guy but he is truly a BEAST in the gym!  For those coming to the FBINA, if you get Steve, don't be lured into a false sense of security.  Steve WILL smoke you! Be ready for the morning when he says, "Today is going to be an easy day...."   That's THE day he is going to try and kill you (In a healthy, getting you into shape, kind of way.).  In all seriousness, Steve is a great guy and you'll be fortunate to train with him.

Thursday's PT was challenging but not over the top.  We did drills through, for lack of a better term, hop scotch squares.  Reminded me of football drills.  Got our hearts pumping.  

Friday's PT time was spent meeting with the FBINA's Unit Chief about upcoming graduation and Yellow Brick Road festivities.  

Going back to Wednesday, we had a great guest speaker in Special Agent in Charge (SAC) George Piro (Pictured at the top of this page).  SAC Piro interrogated Saddam Hussein for almost a year in the early 2000's after Hussein was captured.  SAC Piro allowed us to look into the mind of Hussein.  It was a VERY interesting discussion.  

Texas Night

Wednesday night was Texas Night!  Anyone who knows anything about the FBINA knows that Texas Night is a BIG deal!  LOL!  We had great food! (BBQ Chicken, Beef Brisket, Smoked Sausages, Potato Salad, Banana Pudding, about 5 kegs of beer....)  It was a great night and everyone enjoyed the food and especially the fellowship.  

Section 5's Last PT Day Together

Thursday's PT session was bittersweet. It was the last time Section 5 would meet for PT.  I was excited because this brought me one step closer to graduation but a little sad because it was one of the last times I'll see these people.  I have truly enjoyed the many PT sessions with Section 5.  I think we had a great section.  

Section 5's FBI Counselor, Special Agent Todd Richards and I

I have to mention someone special.  Special Agent (SA) Todd Richards.  SA Richards was Section 5's counselor for our time here. SA Richards immediately became a friend to us.  He never hesitated to help in any way he could.  I don't think Section 5 could have possibly gotten a better counselor.  I will miss Todd greatly. 

Next up is the Yellow Brick Road challenge on Monday.  It is THE challenge!  

Just a few more days and I'll be home..... 

 

Week 8 in the Books

Well, week 8 has come to an end and, technically, today is the beginning of week 9.  Today is Memorial Day so many people are back home spending time with their families.

Week 8 really flew by so quick I can barely remember it.  We had the last of the challenges before the Yellow Brick Road.  This was the one mile timed run.  I think everyone in my section passed.  I'm very proud of that.  I have to say, I think our section has done really well overall.  Couldn't be more pleased with Section 5!

I drove about 30 miles north of here yesterday and visited the George Washington National Masonic Memorial yesterday.  As a Freemason, it is one of those things I had always wanted to see.  It's actually bigger in person than I had imagined. 

At the George Washington National Masonic Memorial

Things are starting to wrap up as far as school is concerned. I have one group presentation remaining in my forensics class.  I also have my final test in legal.  By the way, just because an instructor gives you an "open book test", don't assume it's going to be easy.  It's not.  That is actually a clue to its difficulty.  In that you will need your book just to pass it. 

The folks from Louisiana held a Louisiana Night.  They had crayfish, shrimp, gumbo, and foods from Louisiana. It was great food and fellowship.  Week 9 will see Texas Night.

Anyway, that is all for now.

See you in a few days......

Great PT Session Today

Section 5 of FBINA 268 had a different kind of physical training this morning.  One of our fellow students is a trained boxing coach.  He was allowed to instruct the class.  So we got to do boxing training for 30-40 minutes.  It was much more difficult than I ever imagined!  Very exhausting!!  I have much more repsect now for boxers, mma, etc! They must be in incredible shape to do what they do.

Anyway, just a quick blog post.....

Challenge "Journey to Oz" Complete!

I always thought these signs were on the Yellow Brick Road.  They are actually near the gym.

This challenge was simple; Run one mile as fast as you can.  This is sort of a follow up test to the one mile run you completed during the first week.  You had to run one mile under 10 minutes during today's challenge or you would not be allowed to participate in the Yellow Brick Road challenge.  I ran my one mile today at 8:03.  This is about one minute to one minute 15 seconds faster than when I arrived here. 

I'm very excited to have this challenge complete and I'm looking forward to the Yellow Brick Road on June 7th!!

Coming to the FBI National Academy?

Things to know:

• The internet service here is HORRIBLE! I was told prior to coming here that Verizon had the best service. That is true…sort of. Verizon has decent cell signal here but almost everyone brings a Verizon phone or MyFi card. You then have hundreds of people accessing the same few Verizon towers.  The Verizon towers can only process so much bandwidth at a time and ‘BOOM!’ you have incredibly slow internet. Actually, my personal Sprint phone when used as a hotspot, was WAY faster than anything else I had tried. A wifi service called Boingo is offered here in the dorms. It is hit and miss. For the fastest speed it will cost you around $40 a month. However, once several hundred people in the dorms start using it at the same time, you start running into the same problem as the Verizon tower. Too many people for the available bandwidth.

• There is an area here known as the “patio.” The patio is just outside the atrium. You will pass the atrium many, many times during your stay. Alcohol and smoking is allowed at the patio. We were not told about this until a week or so in. Alcohol and tobacco IS NOT allowed in the dorms. Do not push them on that rule! Anyway, I spent a great amount of time smoking cigars and completing school assignments out at the patio (weather permitting). You will find that the patio is one of the most educational areas at the FBINA. Your classmates will open up and start talking about their agencies and how they do things. One last thing about the patio; Keep it clean! Other students at the FBI Academy (NOT FBINA) came through and threw cigarette butts on the ground and generally made a mess of things. Several of us (FBINA) got together and swept the patio several times. Keep it clean!

• There is also an area across the street from the Jefferson building known as “the grove.” It is a covered area with picnic tables, lights, etc. The switch to the lights is on a corner column on the side facing the indoor shooting range. It uses a timer so be prepared for the lights to go out.   You can smoke and consume alcohol here as well.

•  It was stressed to us that NO intimate relations are allowed on federal property. None of us had an issue with that but apparently; they will send you home on the first offense.

• The cafeteria food here is okay. I thought the coffee was pretty good. The food does get old eventually. There are many food options off post in Garrisonville.

• Speaking of Garrisonville; To get there; Go back out of the FBI Academy gate, turn left. Go to the intersection where the fire department is located. Turn right. Stay on that road. You will eventually exit through a small Marine Corps’ gate. Stay on that road. You will come to an intersection with a CVS pharmacy on your right. From this position:  Most of the restaurants will be to the left. Mrs. Kim’s barbershop is about one block down to the right. The VABC store (where you buy liquor) is next to the gas station on your left in a small strip mall.  Wal-Mart, Target, etc., is to your left. There is a decent cigar store a few blocks down to your left. It is next to a Burger King. 

•  Laundry. I never had any issues getting my laundry done. You have to get to know when the best times to go are. Early mornings are generally ok.

• You will be issued two towels to use in your room for showers, etc. You will be issued linen for your bed. I brought my own linen. The linen exchange is under the cafeteria. It is open from 7:30am to 4pm. That happens to be the same hours as your daily classroom/PT time. I found the best time to exchange my towels was during lunch. I drop off my dirty towels on my way to the cafeteria, eat, and pick up clean towels on the way down. Drop them off at my room and I’m done.

• There is a post office under the cafeteria as well. It is on the opposite side from the linen exchange. Use your access card to gain entry. There are also an ATM and vending machines in that area.

• Restroom Locations:  On the right as you enter the Jefferson building, inside the Atrium, in the gym, in the classroom area, in the officer’s memorial area (you’ll pass this daily on your way to and from class), and there are restrooms on the first floor of the Madison building (where you will stay) near the elevators.

• Speaking of elevators… One of the two elevators was out of order for most of our stay here. When one was repaired, the other would go down and so on. It is a pain in the….well, you know.

•  Most people used backpacks to haul their school stuff around. You can bring one or buy one of the really fancy ones down in the FBINA store. The FBINA products are pricy.

• Speaking of money. I brought $2000. If you plan to buy lots of souvenirs AND going on trips (New York, Philly, etc.) you will need AT LEAST $3000. The New York trip along was $628 for my class. It was worth every penny!!!!

• Speaking of the New York trip…. GO!! It was the trip of a lifetime.

• About academics…Is this the hardest school I have ever attended? No. My crash reconstruction schools were infinitely much harder. However, I have learned a great deal here that I wouldn’t have been able to learn anywhere else. You will be training, eating, living, and socializing with executive law enforcement officers from all over the world. Small agencies. Huge agencies (NYPD) and everything in between. City, county, state, federal. Every kind of law enforcement agency you can think of. You will learn in the classroom and out. I learned a great deal just sitting on the patio and listening to fellow students talk. You will be amazed at how similar policing is around the world. A cop is a cop no matter where they are from. 

• Try to get your papers turned in as soon as possible. You will have instructors that will throw new stuff at you though that you didn’t expect.

• Make a list, spreadsheet, sticky notes, whatever works for you and list out all of the dates of when your papers and projects are due. Just helps plan everything out.

• Don’t forget your access cards in your room. You will be locked out. At least until your roommate can let you in.  UPDATE:  If you do get locked out and your roommate is back home during a long weekend, you can go by the front desk in the Jefferson Building and get a master key to let you in your room.  Don't ask me how I know.  :-)

• Get to know your international students. They are some of the most interesting people you will ever meet. I have to know a gentleman from South Korea. Where he lives and works is close to where I was stationed in Korea.  

• Things to do close to the FBINA
• The U.S. Marine Corps National Museum is just up the road.  15 min drive.
• Mount Vernon - George Washington's home - around an hour or less away.
• George Washington National Masonic Memorial - around an hour or less away.
• Washington D.C. Around an hour, or little over an hour away depending on traffic.
• The Globe and Laurel restaurant.  Basically a military/law enforcement memorial in of itself.  Maybe 10 minutes away. 

That's all for now....