Academy Question...

[Victor]

I'm not being backed by agency so I have to get my own stuff...

What kind of gun should I get? I've been recommended the Springfield XD 40 numerous times.

There is an interview that I need to get through before the academy. Should I be worried about that? How do I prepare?

Is Day 0 as difficult as it looks?

[pgg]

I would look for a simple 9mm like a Glock. The ammo is cheaper and Glock tends to be cheaper then the XD.

[Five-0]

I'm not being backed by agency so I have to get my own stuff...

What kind of gun should I get? I've been recommended the Springfield XD 40 numerous times.

If you have a job waiting on you, what does that agency issue? If you can answer that you have your answer. If you do not have an issued weapon where you will be working you can pick what fits your hand best. With the latest generation Glocks and other pistols the fit can be adjusted so this is a moot point when it comes to learning basic pistol shooting and marksmanship. Make sure you learn the fundamentals of shooting in the academy.

There is an interview that I need to get through before the academy. Should I be worried about that? How do I prepare?

I've never heard of this. Be yourself and give straight answers.

Is Day 0 as difficult as it looks?

If you are an idiot the whole thing will be difficult up until they or you boot yourself out. If your academy is anything like mine you will earn that badge. There is more to it than running and gunning. You have to have it between the ears. You will keep learning well past the academy in this line of work. If not you will get hurt, killed, or sued into oblivion.

[pgg]

I'm not being backed by agency so I have to get my own stuff...

What kind of gun should I get? I've been recommended the Springfield XD 40 numerous times.

There is an interview that I need to get through before the academy. Should I be worried about that? How do I prepare?

Is Day 0 as difficult as it looks?

Being from CA myself I'll answer as best I can.

When I went through the academy there was a testing and selection process for it. Most was bypassed since I had an agency sending me through. One thing at my academy though is the student had to provide our own ammunition. Thats why I recommended a 9mm since it is alot cheaper. My agency provided that for me. As far as preparing for the interview I would suggest learning some about the academy (how many classes they have graduated, the director's name, his background, the College Dean etc.) Also be prepared to explain why you want to be an officer and why you selected their academy. We had a few people drop out our first day. Apparently they couldn't take the yelling. Be prepared to be yelled at, have your uniform critized, your boots disdained etc. This is normal. They want to see how you react. Five-0 is correct with what he said. Your hardest part will be book work. You need to learn everything that you can and can't do in those 6 months. Your physical stuff will be the easy part as long as you are in decent shape. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.

[luckyme]

The best advice I got for academy was to keep your head down, follow the crowd. If the instructors don't know your name, they won't mess with you as much. Some of the guys had a hard on about voluntering for squad leaders, class prez., etc.. In the grand scheme of things, the fact that you were a squad leader won't mean much after graduation. But if you get it and mess up, you'll catch hell from the instructors.

I don't know if you've got a live in academy or not, but what appeared to me to make the biggest difference in how the recruits did was roommates. Sit down with your roommates the first night, be sure they have studying as a priority, not staying up late goofing off. I was real lucky with mine, we did study groups and things, helped out a lot. Some of the others wanted to do good, but the roommates wanted to party/drink all night so they struggled with the classes.

All the yelling and such is just a mind game. Don't let it get to you. Just part of the game.

[Jks9199]

The best advice I got for academy was to keep your head down, follow the crowd. If the instructors don't know your name, they won't mess with you as much. Some of the guys had a hard on about voluntering for squad leaders, class prez., etc.. In the grand scheme of things, the fact that you were a squad leader won't mean much after graduation. But if you get it and mess up, you'll catch hell from the instructors.

I don't know if you've got a live in academy or not, but what appeared to me to make the biggest difference in how the recruits did was roommates. Sit down with your roommates the first night, be sure they have studying as a priority, not staying up late goofing off. I was real lucky with mine, we did study groups and things, helped out a lot. Some of the others wanted to do good, but the roommates wanted to party/drink all night so they struggled with the classes.

All the yelling and such is just a mind game. Don't let it get to you. Just part of the game.

I don't want someone who is satisfied not to stand out from the crowd working with me. I want everyone I work with to be a hard charger -- in their own way. Every cop must be a leader; you must be able to take command of a scene of chaos immediately. I'm not saying that everyone must be a DUI or drug hound, or whatever; there are plenty of different sides to cop work. But you must have the drive and desire to standout in your own fashion, and not simply be part of the crowd.

I'm not saying you have to be first in line for everything, or that you have to be the class president or squad leader. But you have to put your best effort forward, every time, in every exercise and everything you do. You have to go 100% at succeeding in the academy.

[MacLean]

I don't want someone who is satisfied not to stand out from the crowd working with me.

He's not saying slack off, he's saying be grey.

It's generally advice you will hear from military veterans of basic training.

Standouts get whacked.

My personal experience as a student leader in basic and tech school bears that out. I rarely got whacked for my issues, but I was yelled at constantly for the kids I was responsible for.

[Victor]

I'm not saying you have to be first in line for everything, or that you have to be the class president or squad leader. But you have to put your best effort forward, every time, in every exercise and everything you do. You have to go 100% at succeeding in the academy.

This is what I did for every exercise and test that we did for the entry test and I aim to keep it up the whole time.

As far as book work goes, I consider myself a fast learner. I can absorb and apply things fairly well. Hopefully this will be an asset to me at the academy.

My uncle is with the LAPD. I should start bombing him with questions. lol

[Five-0]

My uncle is with the LAPD. I should start bombing him with questions. lol

Just pray to God he doesn't call in "checking on you". You said you were good at push ups right? About 50 of them should show that you are fine.

[Bama512]

Just pray to God he doesn't call in "checking on you". You said you were good at push ups right? About 50 of them should show that you are fine.

Yep, I had forgot about that. If anyone called to check on us other than our police chief or sheriff, then you got push ups.

[Victor]

Just pray to God he doesn't call in "checking on you". You said you were good at push ups right? About 50 of them should show that you are fine.

Then I guess I better get started. Never really like push ups much. I guess I'll have to get used to that.

What I need to do is start hopping some fences...I was slow compared to some people...

[ISPTI]

Then I guess I better get started. Never really like push ups much. I guess I'll have to get used to that.

What I need to do is start hopping some fences...I was slow compared to some people...

If it's anything like mine was, you'll be doing pushups until the sweat rolls off your forehead, trickles down your nose, and collects in a pool an inch deep on the ground in front of your face. Only then can you even consider stopping!

[luckyme]

But you have to put your best effort forward, every time, in every exercise and everything you do. You have to go 100% at succeeding in the academy.

That's not what I was going for at all. Maclean said what I meant. That advice came from a veteran that worked at my department when I started. And it went exactly like Maclean said while at academy. Our class prez was a retired EOD guy, really a squared away officer, but he caught hell when some of the class wasn't up to par.


Last I talked to him the fact that he was class president hadn't added up to a hill of beans, just that he was in better shape from the push ups.



As far as checking up on people, we had a guy get a teddy bear and chocolates. Had to open the package in front of the class, and then the class voted on how many push ups he had to do. The instructors said if somebody took the time to check up on you, you needed to repay that time by making sure you were in shape.

[Victor]

New question:

If I wanted to do some searching to find departments that could possibly be sending students through the academy, how would I go about doing that? Is there a website or do I just have to go down to the office of every department that i would be interested in?

[luckyme]

Around here you would have to ask each department.

Most of the job postings though will list in the requirements whether you have to be certified already or not though.

[Five-0]

Are there personnel boards in your area Vic? When I first got started I had to take a test that was given by a county for all the agencies in that county. Based on your score the individual agencies got to contact you and then give you a physical (medical), PT test, and interviews. They then sent you to the Academy of their choice.

[pgg]

The individual announcements would state so. Unfortunately in CA right now if you want to be sponsered you need to go with the big agencies (e.g. LAPD, LASD, CHP, etc). They are the only ones with enough attrition to be able to regularly hire people. Most agencies are laying off now.

[Drico]

It's kind of sad but true..most are looking to cut the budget which is resulting on officers loosing their jobs, here in NJ it has probably been the worst it's ever been in quite a long time.

[Victor]

I'm not afraid to relocate if I need to for a job. The only problem that I can think of with relocating is that I would have to learn the geography of the new location pretty quickly.

[Drico]

I'm not afraid to relocate if I need to for a job. The only problem that I can think of with relocating is that I would have to learn the geography of the new location pretty quickly.

lol...don't sweat that geography and location thing because I've lived in my town for over 5 years and I don't know all the streets within my 27 sq mile area of jurisdiction. It will come with time..you will learn.

As far as the academy etc..I was the Guide in my academy class and yes it was difficult at times being responsible for the rest of the class and making sure they were locked on but the instructors know the deal and most of the time you get picked by the academy staff its not exactly a volunteer thing anyway..lol..