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....

7 Weeks Down

It has been busy here at the FBI National Academy.  I am a little late getting my week 7 blog entry made.

Yukiko Yoshinaga from Tokyo, Japan, and I

Week 7 included the highly anticipated International Night.  There were culinary examples from 23 countries available to sample.  There were also many beverages on hand (Special thanks to my German counterparts).

Anton Wahlig (Germany) and I

Academically, things are starting to wind down.  Final papers, projects, and tests are being completed.  Students are looking forward to the quickly approaching graduation.  I think we all are looking forward to sleeping in our own beds.

I actually sustained an injury Tuesday, 5/16/2017, while pulling a weighted sled during physical training.  Anyway, I was in some serious pain for a few days.  I still don't feel 100% but all I have left is a one mile timed run and the Yellow Brick Road.   I received an outpouring of support from my classmates.  It is greatly appreciated!

I finished out the week with a brief weekend getaway in Charlotte, North Carolina with my wonderful girlfriend Stacy.  Charlotte is roughly the halfway point between the academy and home.  We enjoyed a carriage ride through the city.  Visited a park and a beer brewery (Triple C Brewery).  The beer wasn't really our style but we enjoyed our time there nonetheless. 

Stacy and I in the carriage

Beautiful view of Charlotte, North Carolina

Anyway, on to week 8.....

6 Weeks Down

I just realized that I missed entering a post for week 5 but the New York trip post pretty much covered everything.

Six weeks have come and gone now.  It has been a busy week.  We are steadily turning in projects to our various classes.  Academically, we are finalizing everything before graduation. 

My chief and captain came by and visited me this week and their way to pick up our new Bearcat armored vehicle.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Globe and Laurel restaurant and I got to see the Bearcat in person.

I pretty much laid low this weekend.  I got a lot of papers done for my classes.  The weather was horrible Friday and Saturday.  It was finally nice outside Sunday.  I tried to get some work done down at the patio but the wind kept blowing my papers off the table.  I retreated back to my room to finish my work. 

Oh, Sunday was Mother's Day and my 45th birthday.

We are now starting on week 7.  Lots of physical training this week. 

I'm ready!

5th Challenge - Wicked Witch Hunt - Complete

Today, FBINA Session 268, completed the 5th challenge called the Wicked Witch Hunt.  The challenge consisted of pushing a sandbag across the gym floor for 5 minutes in teams of three.  Next, we ran one mile, up a flight of stairs, and to the top of a parking garage.  At the top of the parking garage we did 20 lunges.  We went back down the flight of stairs and ran one mile back.  At each 1/4 mile increment, we did various exercises such as mountain climbers, etc. Anyway, the challenge was tough but fun.  We all made it through!

FBI National Academy Session 268 After the Wicked Witch Hunt

The New York City Trip

View from the 63rd floor of One World Trade center (AKA, Freedom Tower).  Keep in mind there are still 41 floors above this.

This past weekend, May 5th, 6th, and 7th, 140 or so students of the FBI National Academy, Session 268, toured New York City.  The tour was organized by students who are officers with the New York Police Department.  I have to say, these guys did an incredible job!!   They had to plan and execute the plan while also keeping up their student responsibilities.  One of the New York officer's father passed away yesterday and I ask that he and his family be kept in your prayers.

Friday, we left the FBI Academy and headed to New York.  We arrived at our hotel late in the evening.  The hotel was the Westin Grand Central Hotel.  This hotel building had 41 floors and my room was on the 30th.  I had never stayed that far above ground before! 

A large number of us went to McFadden's Bar and Saloon just a block or so over from our hotel. I didn't stay long as McFadden's was a little too crowded and too loud for me.  I walked around 10 blocks to a small cigar lounge and had a relaxing smoke by myself.

Saturday, we watched a demonstration by the NYPD's aviation unit as they conducted a water rescue drill.  They also demonstrated their fast rope team as officers jumped out of a helicopter with only a rope to hold on to.  The NYPD fed us and many of their specialty unit's equipment were on display.  I particularly enjoyed meeting Nate, the NYPD horse.  We also got a tour of the New York Police Department's headquarters.  I was impressed by the facility and even more so by the officers working there.  Very professional group of people there!  After touring NYPD headquarters, a large group of us went on an 8.7 mile hike through New York referred to as the Concrete Canyon Tour.  We walked from NYPD headquarters to our hotel.  It was exhausting but incredibly fun!  Finally, Saturday night, we enjoyed an amazing dinner at Carmine's at Times Square.  The food was incredible!!  Wow!

Out on the Hudson River Courtesy of the FDNY

"Nate" the horse and Officer Alexander of the NYPD

On Sunday, we were treated to a boat ride by members of the New York Fire Department (FDNY).  We got an up close look at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and more!  It was cold and a couple of guys got seasick but everyone made it through.  We then went to One World Trade Center and were taken to the 63rd floor of the Freedom Tower.  The building is 1776 feet tall and one of the tallest buildings in the world. It was my first time ever in a "skyscraper."  Words cannot describe how wonderful the experience was!  Later, we toured the 9-11 memorial and museum.  The facility was amazing but very somber.  I started feeling emotions such as grief and anger all over again as I listened to recordings of family members reading the names of loved ones lost.  I saw the many pictures of those who died.  I left the museum after this and waited on the rest of the group to come out.

Finally, we boarded the buses and came back to the FBI Academy.

It was an incredible weekend and a truly memorable experience.  I will cherish the memory of the trip for as long as I live.

We just started week 6 and are over halfway done!!

Until next time!

Challenge Four, the "Lion's Leap" Completed

Today, FBI National Academy Session 268 members tackled the "Lion's Leap" challenge.  The challenge seemed simple enough.  All one had to do was run 5k or 3.1 miles.  Ah, but not so fast!  The run's route went through the beautiful rolling hills of the FBI Academy.  They are not very steep but they seem like they last forever! 

Everyone did a great job!  My goal was to run the 5k in under 30 minutes.  I didn't make my goal.  I was a few seconds off from that.  I was still much improved over my fitness level prior to coming to the FBINA. 

Anyway, we only have a few more challenges left before the final challenge, the "Yellow Brick Road."

Until next time...

IACP Dinner

Kim (South Korea), Me, and Joost (Netherlannds)

Last night was the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) dinner for the FBI National Academy, Session 268.  My friends Kim and Joost turned out to be quite the celebrities as everyone was jockeying to get their pictures made with them.  The dinner itself was ok.  Turned out to be food from the cafeteria but served fancier.  LOL.  The company was great as always as everyone enjoyed the fellowship and the food.  Oh, I got a complimentary one year membership to the IACP as did many others. 

4 Weeks Down

This was a fun week.  We had a great guest speaker for our enrichment seminar.  Classes went well.  Papers and projects are getting turned in.  PT was extra tough this week but, as they say, "Pain is weakness leaving the body."

Saturday, several of us went and toured the U.S. Capital building in Washington D.C.  It is much bigger in person than I imagined.  We had a captain from the Capital Police give us an in depth tour of the normal high points and some area that the public doesn't normally get to see.  For example, we were taken deep under the building to where President George Washington's tomb was built.  It is several levels under the rotunda.  The President is not there.  The building was finished after his death. Also, turn out, he didn't want to be buried there anyway. Here's a picture of it:

President George Washington's tomb under the U.S. Capital

We got to go into the original room for the Supreme Court:

Original Supreme Court location.

Three of the justices' chairs in there are the original chairs donated by their respective families.

We also got to sit in the House of Representatives.  This is the same room where the President gives the State of the Union address.  Pretty cool!

Finally,we stood in the spot where the President of the United States in inaugurated.  You can see the capital mall in the back ground.

Good week and good times.  I'm ready for week 5 and the New York trip...