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

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

Flag Night and Challenge

Well today was our first group challenge, 1.5 miles of track and road. Some of the class was worried about the challenge. Some were not so worried. It went really well with everyone finishing and no one getting hurt. I was not used to running in this cool of weather, 40 degrees, but I managed to endure through it. I did a respectable time of 12.26. This for me is a darn good time considering I am not a runner. While running past the Jefferson building Director Mueller came out of some offices and watched us as we trotted by and wished us well. Our next challenge is next Wednesday. We are anxiously waiting to see what that will be for us considering the normal trails the runs are done on are now off limits due to surveying being done. Tonight was also Flag Night. This is where we get to meet new FBI Agents as they receive their new duty assignments and see what state they are going to and see who they may prospectively be working with. Also this gives us a change to interact with the class as a whole a little more than just at meals. I got to meet several of the international class members that I haven't had a chance to speak with. Also got a chance to swap patches and coins with the other students and pick up some pretty cool souvenirs.

Me and Klaus Mirsch, Germany

One Week Down, Nine to Go.

Vic McCraw(Roommate) and Ray Carr (Counselor)

Well one week down and nine to go. This week has gone by faster than expected. This has also been a learning week for some of us. We finally straightened out our classes due to some that had been canceled or just did not want to take them and swapped with those we wanted or basically was the only thing left in that time block we could take. We are starting to get to know each other and learning each other’s names. Some are still being called by their states name or by their nickname, like “The Godfather”. We have all done our fit test and determined our beginning fitness level. Some are guessing what their ending test results will be. We are settling into groups and starting to meld and network with each other and learn that even though we may be separated by a vast ocean or land mass most of us encounter the same problems. This environment lets us get together and try not to reinvent the wheel but find out if someone else has encountered the same problem and found a way to solve it. I do not know where else you could have access to a vast expanse of knowledge as we have right here. All and all the first week has been an enjoyable one and I really look forward to the next nine. Before we know it will be almost over and be walking across the stage graduating.

Well today started our journey with drop/add day. This is where we are able to get a better understanding of the classes we selected and areable to drop ones that we are not so happy with and try and obtain admittanceinto ones that we would like. Some of them fill up faster than others with someappearing to be unavailable from the start. Also today we began selectingpeople to participate in coordinating events such as the yearbook, socialevents, class shirts and other things. Most of the spots everyone volunteeredfor with little or no coercion. I am now part of the yearbook staff as one ofabout 8 photographers taking pictures for the yearbook. As it sets I believe wehave the best section at the NA. Also our section has more internationalstudents than any other section. We have one from Germany, Moldavia Philippines,France, Italy, and Canada. But there are I believe 24 foreign countriesrepresented here. We ended the day with a welcome dinner put on by the Academy.This was a time for us to get to know our fellow officers better and networkwith individuals that we would probably not get a chance to talk with, as inones from other countries. This was very interesting getting to talk with lawenforcement officers from other countries and see how they are set up and howthey function. It will be interesting getting to know them and talking withthem more. Tomorrow start our classes and conduct our fit test to determine ourstarting fitness level I believe this it when the fun really begins. Fun andexcitement are yet to come. I will stay in touch and keep the updates coming aswe progress on our ten week journey into getting to know each other and ourselves.