Week 10 - The end draws nigh...

"Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows." --Ben Stein

As we enter our last week at the National Academy, it is bitter sweet.  We look forward to seeing our families and friends back home and returning to our "normal" lives, while simultaneously feeling disappointment that we will not be seeing our new friends and "family" and will be returning to our "normal" lives.  I will admit that it has been a pleasant experience only being responsible for myself, sleeping through the night (no late night calls), and having my day (to include workouts) planned and precisely scheduled for me.  Over these past two months, I have been fortunate enough to see and do a a vast and varied array of things that many people will not see and do over a lifetime.  I have been to museums, monuments, battlefields, and a ballpark.  I have met pilots, POWs, and even a general.  I have learned in the classroom from the best the field has to offer.  Chief among my experiences, though, is that I have been provided a very unique opportunity to not just meet but really get to know law enforcement leaders from around the world.  Through academic projects, physical fitness challenges, and extracurricular activities, we have formed strong bonds.  These bonds are only seeds though.  If they are watered and provided sun and nutrients, they will sprout, grow complex root systems, and continue to grow into something much bigger and stronger - something from which new life can be generated.  If they are neglected, they will simply wither and dry up into a shell of what they were.

We have one benefit that some of our predecessors did not.  Technology like cell phones and email and social media like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are already being used to communicate amongst our group, and they will continue to help us keep in touch.  What has brought us together, though, is not an internet "friendship" where we "like" each others photos.  The fact that we have succeeded, and sometimes suffered, as a group is what has drawn us together.  We will need to maintain those human connections if we wish to maintain the camaraderie that we have enjoyed thus far.  As we go on to succeed as individuals in our personal and professional lives, we will need to celebrate with one another.  As we go on to face challenges as individuals in our personal and professional lives, we will need to support and assist one another - just as we have grown accustomed to here.  We each have a new network of associates that gives us nearly unlimited "phone a friend" opportunities.  A new problem we may face is likely an old problem for one of our fellow classmates.  This benefit is really only a benefit if it used and used regularly.

This week has been eventful.  I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that we completed our series of physical challenges.  Continuing along with the Wizard of Oz theme, we completed the finale this week, the "Yellow Brick Road."  The National Academy describes it as "a 6.1-mile grueling 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."  Upon successful completion of this challenge, you are awarded an actual yellow brick.  While arguably the most difficult, it was absolutely the most enjoyable physical challenge we have faced and will be one of the most memorable experiences from my time here.  I had great company along the trail (thanks to Joe, Kirk, and Dave) and despite the distance and terrain, we had a lot of fun completing the obstacles and finishing together as a team.  While some of my classmates are marathon runners (literally), I am not what you would call an enthusiastic runner.  I run because my profession demands it of me.  So, though I have run longer distances (years ago), I would consider the Yellow Brick Road to be one of the more significant physical fitness events I have faced and will thus be proudly displaying my brick once I return home.  Several of us carried cameras along the way.  I also wore a body camera to document the event.  I have provided a peek below.

Joe and I stopped for a photo op as we "raced" to the top

Under the barbed wire

Yellow bricks look suspiciously similar to common pieces of gravel

I, like many of my classmates, have been all too aware that this was our last weekend and have tried to squeeze everything I can out of it.  This weekend, I was able to eat dinner with a friend from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  He and I hit it off early in our session and while we have spent quite a bit of quality time together running, doing pushups and burpees, and flipping tires, we have also had the opportunity to tour some monuments and museums together.  On Friday, though, we enjoyed a great dinner at a Quantico landmark called the Globe and Laurel and were able to discuss everything from family to the future of our respective agencies.  While the food was superb, it was actually upstaged by the atmosphere.  The owner of the restaurant is a retired Marine who has one of the most superb personal collections of law enforcement memorabilia that I have ever seen.  The ceiling is quite literally covered in over 7,000 police patches from every agency imaginable.  The walls are decorated with badges, uniform hats, firearms, and photos representing local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies.  Any time you can combine great atmosphere with great food and great conversation, it is a good night.

In front of the FBI tribute wall

The Globe and Laurel

A panoramic view showing a fraction of the patches

One item on my NA bucket list that had not been checked off was a trip to Gettysburg.  That item was checked off this weekend.  Several of my classmates and I made the short trip to Gettysburg Saturday.  It was one of the best days I have had here.  We visited the museum, watched a film that provided a good knowledge base of the battle, and saw the cyclorama which is a 360˚ multi-sensory painting.  We then were able to, not only tour the battlefields, but do so from horseback.  It was a great way to view the battlefields.  Our guide was very knowledgable adding details to supplement what we had learned in the museum.  Actually seeing the terrain and landmarks  from the perspective of those involved brought lessons from a history book to life.  The evening ended with dinner in a colonial era tavern in the basement of the historic Dobbins House.  Again, we found a winning combination of great food, atmosphere, and conversation.

No photo of the cyclorama will do it justice, but here is one anyway

A fence that uses no post holes, nails, or screws, the National Park Service uses documents such as post-battle insurance claims to maintain things in a historically accurate way

A view from the high ground

Me and Viggo

Over the next two days we will attend our last classes and take our final exams here at the NA.  Our families and bosses will arrive to celebrate our graduation, and we will part, going our separate ways.  Seeds have been planted.  It will be up to each of us to water those seeds to ensure that the relationships formed here will continue on for years to come.  My next post will be as a proud graduate of the 251st Session of the FBI National Academy.  Until next time...

Week 9 - Stay in the fight...

"If you voluntarily quit in the face of adversity, you'll wonder about it for the rest of your life."
--Pres. Bill Clinton

We have now concluded our ninth week. As we approach the end of our journey and I start to reflect back on our time here, I think about two tremendous cases of resilience I have witnessed. Two of my classmates who have lost loved ones (one, a fiancé and the other, a child) have both rejoined our class to finish what they started, even as they continue to mourn their respective losses. I admire and am amazed by both of these individuals who have shown such personal strength and determination. As a session, we have rallied in support of both classmates, but the decision to come back and the credit for continuing is theirs alone. I should not have been surprised that my classmates returned. This "never give up" attitude is exactly what we teach in law enforcement. We work in a dangerous profession where officers are frequently faced with life and death situations after being shot or while involved in physical fights with suspects. As a firearms and defensive tactics instructor, I have frequently yelled the words "Stay in the fight!" to officers while engaged in training scenarios. Officers are taught that if a suspect punches them in the face, they come back at them with a higher level of force. If someone knocks them down, they get back up. If someone shoots them, they return fire to stop the threat and then plug their own bullet hole if needed. That survival mindset is what ensures that officers will go home to their families at the end of a shift. Time and again, we have seen officers bounce back from traumatic injuries to win a fight and have seen officers who have sustained injuries that should have ended their careers, recover and return to full duty.

This past week, our session had the opportunity to learn more about an extreme case of resilience when we were visited by another American hero as part of our enrichment programming. Mike Durant, an Army helicopter pilot, was shot down during a mission in Somalia. The incident would inspire the book and subsequent movie, Blackhawk Down. After being shot down by an RPG, his femur snapped in half on the edge of this seat due to force of the impact from the crash. Additionally, he crushed a vertebrae in his back. Despite these injuries, he picked up his weapon and prepared to defend himself and his crew from his seat (he couldn't move due to his injuries). Two Delta Force operators voluntarily fast roped into the firefight from the safety of their own helicopter against the advice of superiors in order to come to their defense. Both of those operators were killed along with the rest of his crew. He fought until he ran out of ammunition and was taken prisoner by a Somali warlord. A mob disarmed him and attempted to beat him to death fracturing his eye socket, cheek, and nose. As they stripped him of his boots, they forced his already broken femur to rupture the back of his leg. He spent 11 days in captivity before his release was finally negotiated. He went through a lengthy recovery of surgeries and rehabilitation. At the end, he was told his career as an aviator was over. He was encouraged to choose a new field if he wanted to stay in the military. Due to his passion for flying, but more importantly, his loyalty to his unit, he made the decision to himself that he would return to his unit as a pilot. He thought that if he could prove, through some physical feat, that he was worthy of an exemption, that he would have a chance. Doctors eventually removed a metal rod from his femur, and he decided that proof of his recovery and determination could be proven if he were able to complete the Marine Corps marathon. He began training, and only 10 months after having his rod removed, he successfully completed the Marine Corps Marathon. "Completed" is a bit of an understatement as he finished the marathon in only 3 hours and 37 minutes, beating his own personal best marathon time as well as the personal best of his battalion commander. He filed the appeal for an exemption with an endorsement signed by his entire chain of command. He was granted an exemption and returned to his unit as a "Night Stalker."

Meeting Mike Durant

Mike Durant talking about his post-incident recovery

During his lecture, he talked emotionally about the trials he faced while in battle and subsequent captivity. He said he survived through a combination of luck and falling back on his training. He tried to do and say exactly what had been engrained in survival training. At one point, a helicopter flew over his location and a familiar voice said over a public address speaker on the helicopter, "Mike Durant, we will not leave without you." The encouragement from the familiar voice of his comrade injected a sense of optimism into him and strengthened his determination. His extreme example of survival serves as a good reminder of what the human body and mind can overcome. On law enforcement, we encourage officers to find something in life (a child, a spouse, a cat, or their own stubbornness) and to hold on to that in the face of adversity. Whether your struggle is a physical confrontation or an emotional struggle such as the death of a family member, your survival is tied to your mental toughness...your will to survive. Like Winston Churchill advised, "If you are going through hell, keep going." Things will improve on the other side.

Image of Mike Durant from a video filmed by his captors which was released as anti-US propaganda before his release

In addition to the lesson on determination in the face of adversity, we learned several other lessons from Mike Durant as he talked about management, leadership and tactical strategies that can be readily applied to law enforcement. One such lesson was that "the commander in the field is always right, and the rear echelon is always wrong unless proven otherwise." This is a great lesson for law enforcement leaders to not be too quick to judge the actions of their officers and front line supervisors who often have to make split second decisions under great stress. Law enforcement leaders must be careful not to "Monday morning quarterback" after the smoke has cleared.

Another lesson we learned was that leadership is not something that should exist only at the top of an organization. He pointed out that most private companies wait until someone is promoted to a supervisory position to provide them with leadership training. Conversely, the military trains everyone to be a leader. What happens when the boss isn't there? The nature of law enforcement grants officers a great deal of discretion. How do you ensure that at 2 o'clock in the morning when no one is watching, they will demonstrate your department's values and provide the example you expect? You take affirmative steps to prepare them for that. A field training officer (FTO) is someone who provides a new police officer with on-the-job training. He or she is usually a seasoned officer but not necessarily a formal supervisor. This officer can have a tremendous impact on what kind of officer your agency produces because he or she will be the example provided for new officers when they are at the most impressionable stage in their career. This FTO is a leader in your department regardless of whether he or she is officially designated as such. If you want your new officer to adopt the philosophies and values of your department, you had better ensure that your FTOs are on board. You can do this by developing officers at every level early on as leaders, allowing them to help provide input, and securing their buy in.

A final lesson we learned was the importance of people. Durant told us that you should not hire for skill; you should hire people who are a good fit with your organizational values and philosophies. In other words, skills can be taught - character cannot. I am actually comforted by this because as I have progressed through my own training here, I have been receiving progress reports on several new officers we hired before I left. They are currently progressing through their basic training at the state police academy. Because they are new to law enforcement, having recently graduated college or having transitioned from another career, they will be taught new skill sets. Through a thorough hiring process, we have already ensured their character is intact. I am looking forward to the coming new year, seeing them graduate and get sworn in. But mostly, I look forward to helping influence them and applying what I have learned here to help equip and prepare them for the the struggles they will surely face as officers and to do what I can to ensure that they have honorable careers and go home at the end of every shift.

My time here at the NA is short. Tomorrow we begin our last full week of classes in preparation for final exams and graduation. We also will be tackling our final fitness challenge, the "Yellow Brick Road" - a 6.1 mile obstacle course comprised of hilly terrain, walls, cliffs, barbed wire, lions, tigers, and bears (well maybe not that last part). I am busy devising my own plans for squeezing everything I can out of these last two weeks, so until next time...

Week 8 - Thanksgiving Break

I will be taking this week off from blogging (and the NA) to spend time with my family.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Week 7 - Just do the right thing...

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." --Frederick Keonig

We have completed Week 7 of our journey and are heading into a very short week with the Thanksgiving break. I am fortunate to be driving home on Tuesday to spend most of the week with my family. I have always considered myself a "family man" and have never been one to take my family for granted. I tell them I love them every time I leave or hang up the phone. And though my position sometimes requires me to work long hours and miss family functions, I have always tried to be there when it "mattered." I am fortunate that I work for a family-friendly department that allows us some latitude when balancing family versus work.  Still, one of the things I will take away from my time at the NA is that family truly must come first. While here, I have missed work (to a degree) and have certainly missed the people I work with, but my family is what I think about when sitting in my room at night.  The fact that I missed my wife's birthday and my daughter's school awards ceremony and will also miss one of my daughter's birthdays next month are some of the only regrets I have here. Things at the office have run very smoothly in my absence. One of my post-NA goals will be to tip the balance of the scales a little in favor of my family. Long after I retire, I will be left with my family. While I have tried to make a lasting impression on my department through changes and improvements to policies and programs, my children will be my most important legacy. Life is short and tomorrow is never guaranteed. This fact was proven this past week when one of my classmates unexpectedly lost his fourteen year old son to an unknown heart condition during a cross country match. I can't begin to imagine the pain of losing a child.  As I prepare to see my own family, my thoughts are with my classmate who is preparing to bury his son and most likely facing the toughest trial of his life. I would ask you to keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers, especially this coming week.

This past week has been an eventful one around the NA. We, as a section, had what many believe was the best night yet - International Night. International Night comes but once per session (as some would not survive doing it more than once for various reasons). It is an opportunity for the international students to showcase their respective countries though dress, visual displays, literature, food, and drink. Those of you who know me personally probably cued in on the word "food" and rightly so. Since we have students from countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Mongolia, and South Korea, I have been looking forward to this for weeks - I was not disappointed. One of my classmates, John summed it up succinctly in his Facebook post that night "Best dinner in 7 weeks!". The international students clearly put forth their best effort and did a great job entertaining and showcasing their countries. You could see the pride they have in their respective countries as they talked about their traditions and served up their specialties. The room was set up like a fair with each student having a table and display area. We were then free to move about and visit (and revisit) each country. I'm not sure how many maple cookies I ate courtesy of Dave from Canada - but it was more than I would admit if I did know the number. In addition to all of the Asian food (with special recognition to South Korea even though I'm still feeling the burn of that kimchi), I have to mention Marcin from Poland (sausage and pierogis), Greg from New Zealand (whipped cream dessert), and Muhammed from Afghanistan (a FEAST consisting of chicken, chickpeas, and hummus among other things). While the whole evening was fantastic, I did see one area for potential improvement. I believe every class could benefit from having a brother or sister from south of the border to represent the culinary exploits of the Republic of Mexico. Other than that, it was perfect.

This weekend we were treated to a tour of the Pentagon thanks to Jackie who serves with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Our tour guide was one of his lieutenants who was working there on 9/11. In addition to a very thorough and knowledge-filled tour, he provided a very personal account of 9/11 and its aftermath. It was one of the tour highlights of the session. Without going into too much detail in this public forum, we were able to see some amazing things and were awed by the military might of our country.

Following the tour, several of us took a ride over to the National Holocaust Museum. It is impossible to describe the impact that a visit to that museum can have on you, but it is something that every single person on the planet should have the opportunity to experience for themselves. When you enter you are provided a small booklet where you are assigned a real life victim of the Holocaust. As you traverse the museum, which is organized chronologically, you are able to track your person's experience and fate. The experience begins with Hitler's rise to power. I was pretty familiar with some of circumstances surrounding his rise because I had participated in a debate in my ethics class regarding Hitler as a leader. I had previously discussed Hitler's rise at length with my friend Craig (who was at the museum and was also on my debate team), but we were both impacted by experiencing it so visually through films, photos, and the other displays. One of the most influential photos on that particular display for me showed a regular German police officer and his dog partnered with a Nazi auxiliary on patrol. As a police officer, it begs the hypothetical question, what would American police officers do if the law they were sworn to uphold was suddenly no longer "just" and therefore differed from their personal ethical and moral code? We are fortunate to live in a free society where the Constitution and freedom reigns supreme, but it poses an interesting question, nonetheless.

The most important lesson from the museum was that Hitler was allowed to do something that he did not innately have the power or resources to do. His rise did not happen overnight.  Along the way, people had the opportunity to stand up to him and to intervene, but only after millions had died, did the world stand up and bring his reign to an end.  During the years that the rest of the world failed to stand up and act, Hitler was permitted to rise to power, invade and seize control of Austria and other neighboring countries, take millions into captivity, and finally torture and kill millions of innocent men, women, and children. By failing to act (or in some cases failing to act sooner than they did), various "leaders" were essentially complicit in the atrocities committed. Martin Niemöller said it best when he described his own experience as a German minister, initial supporter of Hitler, and subsequent prisoner (after opposing Hitler).

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -
And there was no one left to speak for me.

While many of us will never be put in a position where our actions or decisions would prevent the next Holocaust, the actions we choose to take (or not take) matter.  For instance, imagine if every time a criminal perpetrated a crime, a passerby intervened rather than being too busy to get involved.  Our crime rate would be greatly reduced.  Whether it is a company cooking its books, corruption within a police department, or members of the clergy and child abuse, how many times have people been in a position to intervene or report something but chosen not to because it was easier or safer to remain silent?  We each have the opportunity, on perhaps a daily basis, to change things for the better by standing up for something or someone.  Imagine if every time a child was bullied at school (or an adult was bullied at work for that matter), someone else, at potential risk to themselves, stepped in to defend the victim.  If the bully then turned on the defender, another person stepped up to defend the defender.   Eventually the source of the bully's power (fear and intimidation) would no longer exist.  Imagine if every time someone told a racist joke or made a sexist or otherwise disparaging comment about someone's appearance, they were called to account for it by someone else rather than encouraged by laughter.  Doing the right thing matters - whether it be a life threatening situation or a seemingly trivial situation.

The museum had several powerful exhibits and its intent is to make you remember what you see there.  It is very effective at this.  Explicit videos of mass murder are shown.  Displays of the gas chambers used to carry out the "final solution" are on display.  One of the most moving displays is a simple pile of shoes.  The shoes were found stored in a concentration camp after being taken from people processed there.  The impact comes from the sight of the shoes which are various sizes and styles.  The shoes smell musty and leather-like.  As you look at the shoes, you begin to imagine the people to whom they belonged.  Another exhibit called "Voices of Auschwitz" allows you to hear, in their own words and voices, real life accounts from concentration camp survivors.  One such survivor, Fritzie Fritzshall said this:

"How do I describe fear?  How do I describe hunger to someone that probably had breakfast and lunch today?  Or even if you're dieting, or even if you're fasting for a day?  I think hunger is:  when the pit of your stomach hurts, when you would sell your soul for a potato or a slice of bread.  I believe that once one has experienced hunger, they will never forget it.  How do I describe living with lice in your clothes, on your body?  The stink.  The fear.  The selections.  The Appells.  The being told when to go to the toilet, not when you  needed to use it.  The using of the morning coffee to wash your face with...and mostly, mostly, death and the gas chambers."

Also on display were a bunk bed from a death camp, a box car used to transport victims to a death camp, hair shaved from the heads of victims at camps, and pictures drawn by children from the Theresienstadt Ghetto who were sent to the camps.  In a particularly moving video, one survivor tells of her decision to give her child to a stranger.  By doing so, she hoped that her child could pose as a non-Jew and be spared the inevitable fate of imprisonment in a camp.  The video went on to feature other stories of those who, despite personal risk, did the right thing and saved lives.  One woman recounted Nazi soldiers tying people together in groups of threes.  Once fastened, they would shoot one person and push the group into the Danube River in order to drown the other two.  The woman along with three other men surreptitiously slipped in to the freezing river and pulled strangers to safety until they could no longer move their limbs because of the cold.  If discovered they could have been shot.  If they had been overcome by the elements they could have drowned.  Still, they did the right thing and saved 50 strangers that night.

Suffice it to say, the experience at the museum was unforgettable, I would recommend it to everyone.  I am more thankful than ever as I prepare to travel home to see my family for the holidays.  Until next time...

Week 6 - Hump Day of Hump Week...

Today marks the official half way point of our time here at the National Academy.  As I reflect on that, I am satisfied with what I have accomplished so far.  From academics to fitness to friendships, if I can keep up the same pace for the second half, this will have been a wildly successful venture.  We have a four day weekend coming up for Veteran's Day, so I will be excitedly heading home to see my family for the first time in five weeks.

This week has been an eventful one.  With the election last night, it was interesting to be around people from other states as they lamented their own local and state elections.  Aside from the presidential election, conversations centered around marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado which will certainly raise some interesting Constitutional issues.  As people (and the news pundits) discussed the electoral college and the power split in Congress, I took a moment to reflect on our times.  Regardless of your side of the aisle, there is little argument that these are trying times in which we live.   From the economy to foreign relations to national defense issues to the great cultural/socio-economic/racial/political divide that was so evident in the election results, these are difficult times indeed.  Still, I am comforted by things I have learned and seen here.

One of my favorite classes is the Law of Police Operations, a Constitutional law class.  The instructor, Carl Benoit, is a fantastic instructor.  His passion for the law along with his experience as a police officer, FBI agent, and attorney give him a unique ability to engage students and apply complex legal principles to real life scenarios.  His class has given me, not only a better understanding, but also a better appreciation for our Constitution, our system of government, and the wisdom of our founding fathers.  This past weekend, my session travelled to Philadelphia which, dare I say, may have been a better trip than New York.  We had a jam-packed weekend, but one of the highlights for me was a visit to the National Constitution Center.  It is essentially a museum dedicated to our form of government, our way of life, and the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans.  Fourth Amendment issues and Supreme Court cases that we have discussed in class were brought to life in interactive displays.  We also toured Independence Hall where i was awestruck as we stood in the room where the framers drafted, debated, and signed the Constitution.  No place is the wisdom of our founding fathers more evident than in our Constitution.  One of the greatest examples of a successful compromise, the Constitution provides safeguards, checks, and balances at every turn.  We have three distinct branches of government: the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches - each having the power and duty to limit the power of the others.  From the Senate's confirmation of Presidential appointees, to the President's veto power, to the Supreme Court's ability to declare laws unconstitutional, the system is filled with safeguards.  Our system of having a bifurcated Congress (known as "the Great Compromise") was suggested after a disagreement between larger/more populated states that wanted legislative representatives based on population (as it is in the House) and smaller states that argued for equal representation (as it is in the Senate).  The Electoral College itself was a compromise between having a president elected by Congress versus having one elected by popular vote.  I point all of this out to remind everyone that regardless of whether your "side" won the Presidency or a particular seat in Congress, everyone is still represented in some way.  While many of the population centers ended up deciding the presidency through the electoral college, smaller districts and rural America simultaneously led the opposing party to maintain control of the House of Representatives.  The Supreme Court, due to lifetime appointments (afforded in the Constitution), remains a conservative leaning body.  Whether I see it played out in court decisions where the Fourth Amendment is used to address electronic surveillance (something the framers had no knowledge of) or whether I see it played out in the balancing of power in the elections, I am amazed at the genius of our Constitution and the timeless wisdom of its authors.  Our founding fathers gave us a gift that keeps on giving.

Independence Hall - the room where the Constitution was signed to include George Washington's actual chair at the head of the room

The National Constitution Center

A life-size replica of the Constitutional Convention 

Today's economic, foreign relations, and national defense issues are worrisome, especially when coupled with the stark differences in political opinions and the divisiveness along cultural/racial/socio-economic lines throughout our country.  I would encourage you to look back through history and think about challenges we have already overcome in our brief 236 years.  In 1861, our nation was truly divided - fighting a physical war against itself.  We not only overcame that period but ended up stronger for it.  In 1929, the Great Depression began.  We not only overcame the worst economic collapse in our history, we ended up stronger for it.  In 1941, we entered World War II, a war that spanned continents and found its way to our own back porch.  In that war, much like today, we were forced to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves in order to ensure that freedom prevailed over tyranny.  We emerged stronger than ever.  Our success has come from our independence, our rule of law, and the indomitable American spirit that has proven itself time and time again.  The fact that every four years we face a potential change in power and time and time again, as we have had changes, it is done peacefully (if not begrudgingly) because that is the law.  The founders put something very special together - a system that has served us well and will continue to serve us well.  While everyone will never agree with an outcome, the process is the key to success.

Hopefully, you are still with me despite what may have been an unwanted civics lesson.

The rest of my week here at the NA has gone well - better than that of at least two of my classmates. Yesterday's election brought a new sheriff in to one jurisdiction which could cost one of my classmates his job. Because he is a higher ranking officer, he is at risk of losing his job should the new sheriff bring in his own command staff. Tragically, another of my classmates had to return home after learning that her fiancé had died while working as a rescue diver.  As Thanksgiving approaches, I have much to be thankful for.  I have been given this incredible opportunity to attend the NA where I have learned a lot, met so many, and experienced so much.  More importantly, I am healthy, as is my family.  I have a stable job where I can make a difference in the lives of others.  The list could go on, but keep my classmates in your thoughts as they go through these trials.

My feeling of gratitude for my own situation was further strengthened tonight when I had the opportunity to attend our enrichment event.  USN Retired Commander Porter Halyburton and USAF Retired Colonel Fred Cherry, former prisoners of war in Vietnam, were brought in to address our session.  Both men spent over seven years in captivity and endured torture, harsh punishment, and abysmal conditions.  Both men were very candid with regards to their experiences.  They discussed the importance of leadership, communication, and faith in helping them to "not just survive but to survive with honor and purpose."  The two were brought together because the Vietnamese thought, due to events of the 1960s, that a young, southern white junior officer and an older black senior officer would not get along and would provide them with propaganda material.  The plan backfired when the two became great friends helping to physically care for, encourage, and inspire one another.  CDR Halyburton told us that one of the greatest lessons he learned was about choice.  He learned that "your quality of life is determined by the quality of your choices."  While almost every freedom he had was taken away, the one that could not be taken from him was his freewill.  He began to take pleasure in his choice to resist his interrogators by not giving them what they demanded, and he found strength in the fact that he was choosing his path.  He encouraged us to take things that we cannot control and set them aside.  We should instead focus on those things over which we exercise control - and we always have control over our own attitude.  Despite what both men endured, they went on to lead successful and happy lives.  Both stressed that they would not change things as their experiences had made them who they are.  CDR Halyburton was only able to spend five days with his daughter when she was born before returning to the war where he was eventually shot down.  In a very emotional scene he described returning home after his liberation.  When he arrived, his daughter, now almost eight years old, ran to him and jumped into his arms.  She then asked, "Can I sit in your lap?"  As my own daughter is almost eight, I tried to imagine what it would be like to have missed out on her life since she was just five days old.  He described their reunion as "love at first sight".  He went on to have other children and is still married to his wife today.  Col. Cherry was not so lucky, as he returned to a broken family after his release.  Both men made tremendous sacrifices that can't be summed up in this short paragraph.  A book, Two Souls Indivisible by James Hirsch details their time in captivity and the bond that they formed as a result.  I had opportunity to speak briefly with both men after their presentation and was humbled by their character and demeanor.

CDR Halyburton and Col. Cherry

Meeting two real American heroes

The downhill starts tomorrow as we pass the halfway point, and I look forward to continuing to learn and experience new things.  I will be enjoying some much anticipated family time this weekend and recharging for what is still to come.  Until next time...

Week 5 - The City that Never Sleeps...

...Gotham City...the Big Apple...the Empire City...whatever nickname you prefer, FBINA Session 251 invaded New York City for a whirlwind weekend that was a jam-packed combination of training, sightseeing, and socializing. For those of you who have not been, it is a sight (or collection of sights). The size and intensity of the city can't be described - it has to be experienced. Our trip was hosted by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the largest police force in the country. The differences between New York City and my home state of South Carolina are numerous. In order to give some perspective, allow me to compare some recent census numbers. Keep in mind that I am comparing a state to a city.

Population
SC >4.5 million  |  NYC >8 million

Number of Businesses
SC 360,000  |  NYC 944,000

Land Area (square miles)
SC 30,000  |  NYC 302

Average Population Per Square Mile
SC 153  |  NYC 27,000

The NYPD has nearly 40,000 police officers. To put this number in perspective, you would have to combine the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th largest police departments in the nation to match that number (Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Houston, respectively). Including NYPD, there are only about 900,000 law enforcement officers in the entire United States - that includes every city police department, county sheriff's office, and state and federal law enforcement agency. If NYPD were a military force, it would be among the largest 75 military forces in the world. Technically, NYPD would have a navy and air force too as they literally have a fleet of boats as well as a fleet of aircraft. To say that the NYPD is a union department would be an understatement. They actually have five unions. There is a police officers union, a detectives union, a sergeants union, a lieutenants union, and a captains union. In many ways the City of New York couldn't be more different than my home state, and in many ways the NYPD is unlike any other police department in the country. I can't imagine having the manpower to literally put an officer on every corner of an area the size of Time Square or to be able to deploy hundreds of officers to a last minute event. I can't imagine being able to deploy a SWAT team and divers on helicopters to a scene within minutes of notification.

NYPD provided demonstrations of several specialized units to include their Aviation Unit.

NYPD provided demonstrations of several specialized units to include their Mounted Patrol. 

We were given a tour of NYPD headquarters, aka One Police Plaza.

Our tour included Comp Stat, the Joint Operations Center, and the Real Time Crime Center.

Throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with and pick the brains of various NYPD officers. What I found is that while the scale of our departments is different, in many ways policing is not all that different. On Saturday I ate lunch with a twenty year veteran of the department and member of a specialized unit. We spoke at length about the recent line of duty death of a Nassau police officer, the issue of officers wearing body armor, and whether generational differences are correlated with officer safety skills. We discussed police leadership, training and mentoring. On Sunday I spent my breakfast time in another discussion with a sergeant from a patrol precinct. Both pointed out that things are not all that different when you break it down. Taken as a whole, the NYPD is a mammoth department - a standing army. However, if you look at an individual precinct, it is like a small to medium sized police department. A precinct commander is like a chief of his own town or city. A shift in that precinct can be comparably staffed with a supervisor and officers responsible for patrolling an area similar to campus or to a region of a South Carolina city or county agency. While the demographics of communities and the availability of resources or something as trivial as the color of a uniform may differ, the concerns of line level officers are the same. They have the same stressors: making ends meet for their family budget, balancing family time with shift work, and potential danger on every traffic stop. As I have found with my classmates, I continue to find more similarities amongst my brothers in blue than differences further reinforcing the idea that we as a profession are in this together.

One of many NYPD officers I had the opportunity to meet on our trip.

We had the opportunity to see several New York landmarks. Being able to ascend the Empire State building gave me a new appreciation for the size and grandeur of New York City as I looked out over the landscape that is so different from home. Being able to walk through the NYPD Museum allowed me to see first hand the history of my profession. As I walked through various exhibits I was reminded of names and events that I forgot I knew from my history of policing classes in college. Going to the Statue of Liberty, we were reminded of some of the simple freedoms that we often take for granted in our daily lives. As we walked through the 9/11 Memorial and read the names of those lost, we were all able to renew our commitment to being vigilant for the next time evil attacks.

A view of the city skyline from near Ellis Island.

The 9/11 Memorial

A room containing a badge representing every NYPD officer that has died in the line of duty,

Lady Liberty

Another key aspect of the New York trip was the opportunity to simply spend time with my fellow classmates. We have bonded over the past several weeks having studied together in class, having sweat together in PT, and having eaten together in the cafeteria. Opportunities like the New York trip offer time away from the institution. The opportunity to have fun together and to relax. Taking advantage of opportunities like this is what takes a group of colleagues and transforms it into a group of friends. I had the opportunity to get know several people that I don't have classes with and whose dorms are not on my floor. Even now in our fifth week, I am meeting new people and learning new things from them. During the trip to New York and during my entire time here at the NA, I have experienced things and made memories that I will have for the rest of my life, and I am just very grateful for the opportunity.

On the bus with roommate Insp. Montes (CA), and suitemates Lt. Zimney (MI) and Lt. Clites (SD)

During dinner Saturday we had a surprise visit from the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe and Drums

As I type, I am on the eve of our next trip which will be hosted by the Philadelphia Police Department. We are approaching the half way mark of our time here and with the holidays, I am certain that the pace of things will be picking up. I plan to continue to take advantage of every opportunity and encounter. Until next time...

Week 4 - Wise Words...

It has been quite a week with some ups and downs.  I am sorry to report we have lost our first classmate as Art from Arizona had to return home after tearing his Achilles which will require surgery and substantial recovery.  He will hopefully have the opportunity to return for a future session of NA training.  In the time he was here, he made an impact on several of us with his quiet, "gentle giant" demeanor and articulate contributions to class discussions.  Art was in my section as well as several of my classes to include Ethics where we were teammates in a debate.  We wish the best to Art on a speed recovery.  Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that after three dentist visits and two failed attempted root canals, I found a new dentist with the help of my mother-in-law.  Thanks to Dr. Misto who, on his first try, was able to perform a successful root canal on my broken tooth.  I never thought I would be so relieved to get a root canal.

It has been a full week as we began our enrichment programming this week.  In keeping with the goal of developing well-rounded law enforcement leaders, the NA brings in a variety of speakers throughout our session to speak to us on a number of topics.  This week, we had our first enrichment speaker, Gen. Hugh Shelton.  Gen. Shelton was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on September 11, 2001.  Originally appointed to the post by Pres. Clinton, he also served a term under Pres. Bush.  Gen. Shelton came to speak on values-based leadership and leaving a legacy.  His distinguished 38 year military career included two combat tours in Vietnam.  He previously served as Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division as well as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command.  Among his many military awards, Gen. Shelton has earned four Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, and the Purple Heart.  He also received the Congressional Gold Medal and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.  The author of two books, he wrote Without Hesitation:  The Odyssey of an American Warrior which I am currently reading.  I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the military, history, politics, or leadership.

 Gen. Shelton address our session.

Gen. Shelton captivated us with his no-nonsense take on leadership and kept us entertained with his sense of humor and quick wit.  Many of his experiences in the military translate very well to the law enforcement world.  He broke his views on leadership into three broad categories: the leader, the people we lead, and the importance of teamwork.  He got straight to the point when discussing the role of the leader.  He said that it all begins with integrity.  He said that "without it, anything you build is on shifting sand."  One of the most important benefits of being an leader with integrity is that "you have the right to give no quarter to those who lack it."  With regards to the people we lead, he reminded us that the "golden rule" would not lead us astray on how to treat our people.  He promoted a more collaborative form of leadership where open debate is encouraged.  One thing he made struck home with me.  He said that the goal for any good leader "should be for his organization to run as well without him as when he is there."  As I monitor from afar, via End of Shift Reports and occasional calls and emails, I consider myself fortunate in this way.  Though it may have been nice in some ways to appear more critical to our operations, I am pleased that my troops have not missed a beat in my absence, thanks in large part to the professionalism of our officers, but also the leadership and hard work of Maj. Miles and Lts. Gooding and Millhouse.

Gen. Shelton understood and stressed the importance of teamwork in any profession where members have to rely upon one another in life threatening situations.  Again, he stressed that it all starts at the top.  The leader must first set the standard for what is expected and then must demonstrate it and serve as an example.  He summed everything up by simply encouraging us to "just do what's right and feel good about it."  While I can't do justice to his hour long speech in a couple of paragraphs, I will say that he did not say anything that night that I did not wholeheartedly agree with.  Having found himself in some very precarious positions, he was definitely tested throughout his career and serves as a great example to others of how you can lead effectively and still maintain an ethical code.  I look forward to continuing his book.

This week's fitness challenge was a 5k run throughout the FBI complex known as the "Lion's Leap" (in keeping with the Wizard Of Oz theme).  Once again we gathered and learned that we would be running in honor of a classmate's coworker who had been killed in the line of duty.  We ran around several parts of the campus to include the famed Hogan's Alley, home of the most robbed bank in America.  (Hogan's Alley is a "town" where new agents conduct scenario-based training.)  In fitness class we continued with our circuit training in a routine reminiscent of Rocky IV when Rocky trains in the Soviet Union without the benefit of  traditional equipment.  While we didn't chop any firewood or outrun KGB agents in the snow, we did train today with rope, tires, and a few other things they had laying around.  Our Fitness instructor Kevin is a good guy and continues to push each of us to push ourselves.

The most "robbed" bank in America.

 

The class looks on in dismay as Kevin demonstrates the fitness benefits of this medieval torture device.

A deceptively tiring workout using nothing but a "big ole piece of rope". 

Another "tiring" workout...flipping tires...exactly what it sounds like.

Tonight I was able to attend a presentation by Dr. Kevin Gilmartin, author of the book, Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement.  Familiar with his book but never having had the opportunity to hear him speak, I eagerly joined my roommate's class where he was scheduled to speak, and I was not disappointed.  A former police officer himself, his presentation (and book) focused on the change that police officers inevitably undergo after beginning work in the field.  Unfortunately, the same hypervigilance that serves officers from a self-preservation standpoint on the streets also works against them in their personal lives.  Officers essentially trade one threat for another.  Dr. Gilmartin also discussed one of law enforcement's dark secrets - police officer suicide.  He provided some startling statistics that show that an officer is actually about nine times more likely to die by his own hand than by that of a felon's.  He offered an alternative path to prevent an officer from going down that road.  He went on to speak in great depth about how officers can keep their cynicism at healthy levels and keep issues at work from affecting them at home.  Though discussing some very serious material, Dr. Gilmartin was able to interject some humor into his presentation, much of it at the expense of firefighters.  While we already provided his book to our officers several years ago, I am also exploring ways to bring Dr. Gilmartin to SC, as his message is one that should be heard by everyone who wears a badge (as well as anyone married to someone who wears a badge).

Dr. Gilmartin addresses the class.

The members of Section 1 also had our first official section dinner.  We went to Fredericksburg for, not only a great meal, but also some great camaraderie and conversation.  While I am actually quite fond of cafeteria food, it was nice to get away and eat dinner in a less industrial setting.  I got to hear some great stories from my classmates around the table...most of which were probably even true.

Some of "the guys"

This coming weekend is a big weekend as we will be traveling to New York City for a program sponsored by NYPD.  I look forward to reporting back some details of that trip in my next installment.  Until next time...

Week 3 - It's all about perspective...

Well, what could have started as a pretty rough week has turned out to be the best since I've been here. Heading into this past weekend, I broke a tooth.  I wish it had been doing something heroic or even while completing the Marine Corps obstacle course, but it was just biting down on something hard in the cafeteria.  While it was painful, people bent over backwards to assist me.  From the free phone consult from my dentist father-in-law, to Paul the FBI Agent/Counselor who worked through the night to find me a local dentist and provided me with transportation there, to my boss who helped navigate the insurance maze, to my instructors who were very understanding with scheduling issues, I felt nothing but support.  In the end, I needed a root canal and a crown.  The root canal is half-way done and will be completed on Monday.  The crown will come sometime down the road.

I had signed up for a moonlight monument tour on Friday and almost didn't go because I wasn't feeling that well.  A new friend, Jason offered to drive so that I could attend and still take my vicodin.  We were able to see a number of monuments via an open-air bus and made several stops at the major monuments.  Having seen many of them during the day, they are a spectacular sight at night.  Our bus driver was both gregarious and knowledgeable and ensured that we all had a great time.  Having South Carolina roots, he was also a Gamecocks fan.  We were able to see the Marine Corps Monument, the Vietnam and Korean Memorials, the MLK Memorial, and several others.

A humbling sight

On Saturday, several of my classmates and I drove to D.C. to see the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Arlington National Cemetery.  Arlington was awe-inspiring.  It is one thing to know that we have lost over a million American lives in wars over the years.  It is quite another thing to walk through rows and rows of graves and to know that you have only seen a fraction.  We were able to watch the changing of the guard as well as a wreath ceremony.  The Old Guard was phenomenal.  The care and precision that they demonstrate is almost inhuman, and they perform their ritual every hour of every day, around the clock, regardless of weather conditions.

Precision and dedication at its best

As far as the eye could see and beyond

On Sunday, twelve of us drove back to D.C. to participate in the Run to Remember 5k at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  In addition to a registration fee, each runner was required to raise an additional $54 to raise awareness of the fact that, on average, a police officer is killed in the line of duty every 54 hours.  Proceeds from the event will support the building of the National Law Enforcement Museum which is under construction near the memorial.  I can't imagine a better experience for my first 5k.  Several of us ran as a unified group offering encouragement and enjoying the scenery of our nation's capital.  After the race, we were able to spend some time at the memorial, and I was able to locate the names of several officers from South Carolina who have paid the ultimate price.

Opening ceremonies

The view from the course

Approaching the finish line

On Wednesday, we completed our second challenge run, the "Tin Man Trot."  While the run was only 2.8 miles, we took periodic "breaks" from the run to perform lunges, bear crawls, pushups, and burpies.  The spirit of camaraderie that I observed last week continued with officers providing encouragement to one another and ensuring the last runner completed the run to a cheering crowd.  In keeping with the somber theme of the week, we learned that the police chief of one of our international classmates had been assassinated.

Later that evening, our entire session returned to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for a special ceremony.  The ceremony included an honor guard, pipe and drums, and a roll call ceremony. A roll call ceremony is where the names of fallen officers are read off to signify their end of watch.  Several classmates read names of coworkers who have been killed this year.  One officer had lost a partner and several had lost close personal friends.  The incidents served as somber reminders of the dangers of this profession, what's really important in life, and the need to make every day count.

Entering the Capital for the ceremony

Just prior to the laying of the wreath

The SC Delegation - Asst. Chief Scoggins (Winthrop), me, Lt. Morrison (West Columbia)

So, back to my tooth.  Not such a big deal after all.  As I sit here with my temporary filling away from my family, I think about how much worse other people have it.  Start on one end of the spectrum.  I miss my family but am able to speak to them on the phone every night and with FaceTime can even see them during our conversations.  I will see them over the holiday weekends, and they are only a seven hour drive away.  My international friends have to carve out a moment after lunch to speak with their families (if they wait until after class their families are sleeping because of the time difference).  They can't go home on weekends because of the cost of airfare.  Many of their families will not even be able to attend graduation in December.  Still, we are all here voluntarily having tremendous personal and professional opportunities presented to us.  To go one step further, I think about the military families where separation is a part of life for months or more at a time - the troops who miss their families but are also living in tents, eating MREs, with little to no communication with their families.  Still, we have our health.  Now, go to the other end of the spectrum of sacrifice.  I think about the officers on the memorial wall and the soldiers' graves at Arlington and elsewhere - those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others.  Yeah, my tooth is feeling much better.  It's all about perspective...