LASD academy

[Samuelx]

Lastly, both environments create one universally identical phenomenon: In the minds of graduates, every recruit or class or company that goes through after them has it much easier, less stress, and lower standards to graduate. This isn’t even necessarily true, but in the minds of those who have been there and done that, it is an unshakeable fact.

LMAO!!

We had to wear these ugly *** lime green shorts (with matching lime green felt lettering on our PT attire) that looked like they came out of a swap meet reject pile. Some years after us, they got to wear nice dark green running shorts and they also got to wear compressions shorts/shirts/etc (with nicer darker lettering on their clothes). But the Half-Full side of things says to me - be glad you didn't have to wear those dolphin shorts that the old school guys had to wear!

Even during the academy, the class two behind mine got to wear casual business attire like in week 11 or 12 (whereas my class only got to wear casual business attire in like the week before graduation and that was only after I specifically asked for permission) - Unfair! lol

These days, we're like (to the new recruits) Man, you guys get Snacks?! We only were allowed to have water! (And I know some old school guy will pipe up and say to my generation, WTF?! You guys got Water???!!! )

[RickD427]

Very insightful post here.

The ability just to get away from the program at the end of the day made the process completely different from the military. I did the Orange County Peace Officer's Academy (Goldenwest College) in 1977 when it was a stress program. There was some physical contact with the staff, but only in a "Forceful Guidance" manner, nothing that could even remotely be considered as assaultive.

But the most demanding forms as stress are those that are self-inflicted. In 1981, I went through the Criminal Investigator Course at FLETC. We started with a class of about 60, most being newly hired Secret Service agents after the Reagan shooting. It was the epitome of a non-stress program. The class counselors took us across the street for beers the first night of the program. The PT was on a "Lifestyle" model with personal trainers and "build your own program" model. But the academics were a whole lot more demanding than in the academy and there was an inflexible "two-test" rule. If you failed two exams (academic, PT, or Practical App), you were gone. No exceptions. We lost about a third of the class. I saw quite a few more "stress cadets" in that class than I ever did at the academy. When someone is yelling at you, you can let it slide off, but when you know you're getting fired if you don't clearly explain the differences between the right to counsel between the Fifth and Six Amendments, the heart rate starts to fluctuate.

[micro911]

My class started in October 9, 1986 with 80 recruits, and graduated in February 27, 1987 with 63 graduates. We lost 2 recruits on the final week because they could not pass the state mandated Physical Agility Test.

[esy]

My class started in October 9, 1986 with 80 recruits, and graduated in February 27, 1987 with 63 graduates. We lost 2 recruits on the final week because they could not pass the state mandated Physical Agility Test.

The PWSTB? Solid wall, chain link fence, dummy drag, 100yd obstacle course, and the 500yd run that you had to have a minimum 384 minimum score?

That sucks. Last week of the academy and all that PT didn't help build them up to pass that? Realistically speaking, one could almost pass the PWSTB by getting good scores on just the solid wall and obstacle course alone.

[micro911]

The PWSTB? Solid wall, chain link fence, dummy drag, 100yd obstacle course, and the 500yd run that you had to have a minimum 384 minimum score?

That sucks. Last week of the academy and all that PT didn't help build them up to pass that? Realistically speaking, one could almost pass the PWSTB by getting good scores on just the solid wall and obstacle course alone.

I guess it was more strict then. Even in firearms training, if one fails in any course on the last day (usually 12th session), they turned in their gear and went home.

[esy]

I guess it was more strict then. Even in firearms training, if one fails in any course on the last day (usually 12th session), they turned in their gear and went home.

[CrosbyStills]

SamuelX, I had to wear those bright green Dolphin shorts. Sucked.

Micro911, you might have been one of my D.I.'s based on when you went through in 1986. You staff for 275?

[Samuelx]

SamuelX, I had to wear those bright green Dolphin shorts. Sucked.

LOL Sir! But I'll bet you have tons of Character now!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

LMAO!!

We had to wear these ugly *** lime green shorts (with matching lime green felt lettering on our PT attire) that looked like they came out of a swap meet reject pile.

I am glad I invested in several extra sets of that P.T. Gear.

I continued to wear it daily after the academy, up to this very day. It is all quite tattered now, and the felt letters have faded to white, but I am just too attached to let it go.

[retired]

I went thru in 1976 and it was not a stress academy. Ours was called, "discipline." Stress academies were before us and one thing I was told was they did push ups with their batons on the ground beneath their hands. They also wore hats and polished the badge on it (thankfully that was gone prior to my class).

Prior to the days of MDTs, cultural awareness and other instructive matters, our academy was only 16 weeks. Mine was 17. We were told Sheriff Pitchess was on vacation and wanted to attend our graduation. Since he wasn't due to return until a week later, we went 17 weeks. It was as simple as that. And we stayed in our Class B uniforms up until the last day of the academy. I don't get this "business casual."

BTW, we wore white T-shirts with our names on them and blue shorts, but they were not dolphin shorts. Plus, our academy was at the old BC, with mobile trailers as classrooms. They had window A/C which mysteriously broke down after lunch, except in the rear by the D.I.s desks. I went thru during the hot summer, so you can imagine what occurred to a few of the cadets; lunch, heat, no air circulation and afternoon. Sleep.

[Che762x39]

LASD academy is stress academy?

When people ask about 'stress' its really up to the individual.



Words of Wisdom

[Endless]

I went through boot camp at MCRD San Diego in 1998. I can honestly say that my DI's were hard *****, but no one ever hit us.

Agreed. I went through basic in 1995 and when I graduated I asked one of our instructors when was the last time he knew a CC/DI could touch you and he said as far as he could remember it was late 1970s when he went through basic.