Today marks the end of week 9 and the beginning of the last
week, week 10. It’s hard to believe that nine weeks ago we all entered into
this thinking that it would take forever to end. But look at it now; we are at
the end of a tremendous journey for all of us. Some of us have bettered ourselves
more than others, but for the most part we have all improved in one facet or
another, mentally or physically. Every week a new challenge was place before us
and we accomplished what to some seemed the impossible. This week we had the
Yellow Brick Road challenge. This is a 6.1 mile run/obstacle course through the
same obstacle course the Marines run. This is filled with barriers, cargo net,
ropes to climb, and things to either jump through or over. Sending us off in
groups was great due to the amount of people that would be waiting at the
obstacles. Everyone that attempted the run finished. I finished in 1:12:54 which
for me is a good time, especially for someone who didn’t like to run. Some of
the obstacles were interesting to say the least. Yesterday I was told something
that to me epitomizes the NA experience. To gain something new you have to accomplish
something that you have never done. To me we have all done at least one thing
new during our time at the NA. From either running a distance you have never
done before to taking a class that you would have never thought you would take
and learning a new skill. Getting to know the people that I have had the chance
to has been great. I am glad that I got to go to this session. The weather has
been great for the most part and the experience as a whole was terrific. I am
thankful that I was given the opportunity to com and experience it. I hope to
be able to bring something beneficial back to our department when I return.
Most of all I will be glad to get back home. I know I will miss seeing a lot of
the people here, but hopefully we will keep in touch. Next stop graduation.
249th FBI National Academy
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Week 8
Well this week wasn't all that exciting. We had our challenge run of 5.2
miles which I ran in 49.36, pretty good for someone who didn’t like to run
until about a year ago. It consisted of two laps around part of the interior of
the academy grounds near the DEA facility. Everyone finished under the 80
minute time limit. We began as a team we will end as a team. This week we also
had a guest speaker for enrichment night, Michael Durant. If you all do not
remember the name, he was the helicopter pilot, Super Six Four that was shot
down and captured in Somalia in 1993 and held captive for eleven days. He was a
member of the elite Night Stalkers Squadron and is now the owner and operator
of an engineering company in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Durant is also an
accomplished author and speaker. Mr. Durant regaled us with his story of his
time in Mogadishu, Somalia during the Blackhawk Down incident and what it was
like. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the weekend to come due to the impending
Memorial Day holiday giving us a long weekend. I was able to get home for the
first time and see everyone, wife, kids,
and other family. Hard to believe that it has been 8 weeks and the
journey is almost over. Next up is the Yellow Brick Road Run.
Mike Durant |
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Week Seven
Safety Bear |
Fred eating a Balut Egg |
The latest in Danish fashion |
Matt, Me, David, and James |
Tomb of the unknowns |
Tim, Scott, and David |
Well week 7 is all but over. We had several things go on
this week. Monday we had a break and had C.O.P.S. Kids day at the academy.
These are children who lost a law enforcement parent in the line of duty. Some
lost their parent just this past year; others have been coming for a few years.
The kids come and have counseling sessions then we tour them around the
academy, they eat lunch with us and then they play in the gym. This year
Rex Leath, who is an Alaska State Trooper, had his department ship up their
safety mascot, Safety Bear. I got to play Safety Bear and the kids loved it. They had an absolute great time.
It was truly an honor to be able to interact with these kids and possibly help
them through this time in their lives. Also this week was with Winged Monkey
Assault Challenge. This was 30 minutes solid of circuit training. They had
everything from kettle bells, tractor tires, push or pull sleds, dumb bells,
power bands, and much more. The placed them in the infield of the track and
also around the track. We had to keep doing things for 30 minutes continuously
and rotate through the stations. This was a butt kicker. Then after that we had
international night. A time to get to know our international brother and
sisters and get a taste, literally of their culture. Every international
student had a table set up with a sample of their cuisine and libations. This
was a fun time. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed their selves. This weekend
a few of us went to Arlington Cemetery. This was an amazing trip. To see all of
the monuments and all the graves was truly breathtaking. Each was in its
precise alignment with the others and just seems to go on forever. While we
were there it was the celebration of the 150th anniversary of TAPS.
While there they had a gathering of several trumpet players from all over, some
as far as California to celebrate TAPS. Most of the players where members of
Honor Guards from various departments and organizations. It was something to
hear as several trumpets at one time played TAPS. After this was done, several
of the trumpet players were placed at various monuments around the cemetery and
at Noon started playing from one end to the other TAPS in a wave of music
throughout. While there we also saw the changing of the guard at the Tomb of
the Unknowns. Seeing this ballet of precise military movements and reverence
was breath taking. The honor and reverence that these soldiers show was truly astounding.
These individuals truly epitomize the heart and soul of the military.
Monday, May 14, 2012
6 down 4 to go
Before the Race |
After the Race |
Thin Blue Line |
Chief Crabtree |
Monday, May 7, 2012
Week Five
Memorial Wreath dedicated by NA249 |
Lady Liberty |
NYPD Helocopter |
Well another week down and another challenge complete. We
completed the 5k, Lion's Leap challenge. It was a good run, completed it in
29.15. This was about what I had expected. It was a little on the muggy side
with it trying to rain and also hitting 88 degrees. We also had a very good
enrichment session this week with Louisiana State Trooper Bobby Smith speaking.
Trooper Smith was blinded in an adversarial encounter in 1986 while on duty.
Trooper Smith spoke about dealing with the job and with family and how to separate
the two and bring it home to our loved ones. I will have to say that this was
one of the most informative and enlightening enrichment sessions we have
attended. Trooper Smith brought up some very good points about our job and that
it takes a special person to be a spouse to an officer and that we should not
take them for granted. Also we should not just let things build up to the point
that it explodes. This week was also the week for the New York trip. This trip
was one of the best things that I have ever got the chance to experience. We
started the trip with a visit to the NYPD Police Museum. This was a pretty cool
place with all types of historical items from the NYPD’s history. After that we
went to the Special Ops Division to tour the facility and see the equipment.
Due to weather conditions our helicopter demonstration could not be preformed.
We then went to One Police Plaza and got a tour of the Joint Operations Center
(JOC) and the Real Time Crime Center. This was a technological marvel to say
the least. Several banks of cameras and intel data streaming in from all over
the city and country to assist officers, quite amazing. After the One Police
Plaza tour we had time on our own to explore NY. Scott Pike, from Port Huron
Michigan Police Department and I decided to walk around NY and site see a
little bit and took the subway back to the hotel. That evening we all went out
to eat at Carmine’s Restaurant. This was an Italian, Family Style restaurant
that was tremendously good. The service and food was excellent. The next day we
split up and half went to the Empire State Building and the other half went on
a harbor tour on the FDNY Fire Boat. This was amazing seeing the sites from the
harbor. After this we went to the World Trade Center Memorial. This was a
somber experience. This really tugged at your heart being at the site of one of
the most horrific terrorist attack in America’s history. Seeing all the names
at the reflecting pools and the survivor tree that survived the attack was
truly incredible. We then were treated to a true surprise. We were given
permission to go up in One World Trade Center that is currently under
construction but has recently surpassed the Empire State Building at the
tallest building in New York. We were taken to the 39th floor and
then to the last completed floor the 71st. This was a truly amazing
view of the New York skyline. We then were allowed to go to the memorial
museum. This was a sobering experience seeing all the artifacts from the
aftermath. This was truly amazing. Well five more to go.
On the Fire Boat in the Harbor |
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Week Four
General Jake leading the charge |
Well we have seemed to survive another week. We had the Cyclone Challenge this week with everyone seeming to have enjoyed it. We are all trying to get what papers we have to get done completed so that they will not interfere with going on trips and activities. Next week is the New York trip with over half the class going. It plans on being a terrific trip and the itinerary is pretty full. The weekend our counselor got a trip to Gettysburg together for us to ride horses around the battlefield while our guide told us of the battle how thing transpired. It was amazing at how much our guide knew about Gettysburg. It was absolutely one of the best activities I have experienced thus far. When we got to the sables we were given horses and the assistance gave us a briefing on safety and rules. They said that if anything happened or if they needed to tell us something they would call us by our horses name because they would not be able to remember all of our names since they have so many people that go through the tour. The head assistant was calling out our names and telling us what horse we would have. She started out giving people horses with names such as Eldorado, Flash, Chance, cool names, then she gave me mine, Ariel. Don’t think for a minute the other guys on the trip didn’t give me down the road about that one, but that’s ok. It seems that the weeks are going faster with a lot more activities planned in the coming weeks. I looked at the calendar and realized that almost every day we have something extracurricular going on. They have already given us our guest list for graduation to fill out.
Me and Ariel |
Monday, April 23, 2012
Three Down Seven to Go
Well one more week and another challenge down in the books.
This week due to the trails being closed we had to do circuit drills for this week’s
challenge. We had hill relays, resistance partner sprints, and stair drills.
This was very interesting due to it had just rained and everybody's shoes
didn't have the best traction for running up a nice 50 to 60 degree grass laden
incline. This was looking to have some very good photos for the collection but
everyone did better than expected. After that you moved to resistance partner
sprints. This is where each of us had to partner up and place a large resistance
band around you and try and spring about 50 to 60 yards with you partner
trailing behind putting resistance on the band. This was interesting. I felt
like a draft horse pulling a sled or something. Lastly we had to run the stairs
at the parking garage at Hogan’s Alley. This totally stunk. It is about 6
stories and seemingly everyone picked the same stairwell to run up and down.
After the challenge we got to listen to Major Ron Stucker with the Orange
County Florida Sheriff’s Department talk about the Caylee Anthony case. This was
very interesting and gave a little more insight on the case. Also this week a
bunch of us went to Washington DC and walked around and saw all the monuments.
While we were there it as the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, it was extremely
busy and crowded. This week was good also because I me my family in Sevierville. I
really enjoyed spending time with them and trying to catch up with things that
have been going on. My son was very excited to tell me about getting his driver’s
license (look out). Things are starting to go by pretty a little more quickly now with
all the things lined up and things to do. Before we know it, we will all be
graduating.
Washington DC Trip |
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