Starting the academy, any advice?

[DT556]

I start the academy next month and looking to hear all the advice and recommendations I can. I've already been exercising and working out several times a week.

What can I expect from the academy? How was your experience?

What boots and gun belt do you recommend? I don't mind paying more for better quality.

Thanks.

[Yodaman]

[DT556]

Self sponsored.

Orientation is this Monday, but just trying to see what everyone has used and recommends.

[CBR_rider]

Quit and go apply at hose dragger school. In five years you will thank me.

If you insist on going to the police academy; just buy whatever gear is fairly cheap that Academy suggests or requires. Nylon can be a ttad lighter but I don’t think it really matters at the academy. Try to get sponsored ASAP.... keep at the PT, and remember this is just the start of any potential LE career

[phroggunner]

Lightest boots you can find that will still take a shine. I've had good luck with Bates and Blackhawk. Skip any all leather capped toe jump boots. They may look pretty, but are not worth the additional cost and weight.

Does your academy require a leather gunbelt? Probably can't go wrong with Safariland for the belt and everything that goes on it.

Being in good shape helps, but the POST physical requirements really aren't that tough. Whether or not the PT is physically demanding is highly dependent upon the academy you attend.

The most challenging aspect of attending a California police academy is that there is an opportunity to fail out just about every day. Between all the learning domains, arrest control, firing range, evoc, and scenarios, you will find at least one area you are weak in.

Always remember: If you lie, you die. Any integrity violations can easily result in a quick departure from the academy and any hopes of a law enforcement career.

If you have what it takes, then none of the above should scare you. Enjoy your time at the academy and learn everything you can. The real challenge begins after you graduate.

[tgriffin]

The academy should have already put out a list of required uniform items. If in doubt, call the nearest uniform shops to the academy and ask them if they have the uniform spec. Im a big 5.11 fan for the boots. 8" ATAC side zips have served me well.

PT PT PT. Find the POST learning domains online and get a head start reading the harder domains. They have recently changed format btw... gone are the days of study hard and test for the LD and purge on to the next LD... the new format is a 'midterm' and then 'final' for the academy.

[GizmoSD]

[Yodaman]

This is very true. [emoji1369]


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[micro911]

Remember codes and all the academic items. You may be physically fit, but you still have to pass all those learning domains.

[DT556]

Remember codes and all the academic items. You may be physically fit, but you still have to pass all those learning domains.

Just graduated top of my class with my B.S. in criminology with an emphasis in law enforcement. So, a lot of knowledge is still very fresh for me.

[Yodaman]

Well ur gonna need that BS in LE.


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[Samuelx]

OTOH, how fun would it be to go back and Dirty Harry all the scenarios?

[hmvan]

OTOH, how fun would it be to go back and Dirty Harry all the scenarios?

[Icypu]

If you're self sponsored pay attention to details and think you're always being watched. It could be the little details like always backing up your car parking or hiding all your gear from view in your car. I guarantee you will be watched by guest staff, recruiters or people who could hire you in the most random places.

If you want to be hired, be humble and understand it's a paramilitary school and not a college. Lastly don't be a gear nerd like me.

Losing my Casio watch week 1, taught me that an Armatron will get the job done. Especially when self sponsored, buy the basic equipment, then buy pairs of them labelled. It's tempting when you start to go Surefire, 5.11, Danner, but think if you join a SO all those high speed stuff will sit in your garage for 2 years while you're in custody.

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[Snoopy47]

When I went through the academy by the end if it something became VERY CLEAR!!!!!

There were THREE main cliques of class members.

1) Those who were agency sponsored

2) Those who were not sponsored but veterans

3) everyone else

THE ONLY ONES TO WASH OUT were from group #3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Groups 1&2 had an ASTRONOMICAL ADVANTAGE

Group #1 had their training SGT's breathing down their necks. There was a vested agency interest their recruits DID NOT FAIL UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. Those agencies with multiple recruits in the same class essentially made them study buddies. Those singular sponsored recruits gravitated toward each other as study buddies.

Group #2 brothers in arms gravitated toward each other as study buddies. They also had the experience of the BS of the military and deployments. The Academy was a relative joke as an additional life experience and hoop they have to jump through.

Group #3 most didn't know what they were getting into. Several barely had the educational background to barely pass the T-Test for the academy, which was lower than most agencies would hire at anyway. One had to take a few days off from class to attend court appearances for a DUI, so he was using the academy as leverage in his plea. He was never going to be a cop ever.

One guy from #3 straight up quit on DAY 1. He was the most bad *** looking guy in the class, and the DAY 1 intimidation session from the instructors scared him off.

Another guy from #3 straight up quit during the Scenario Exam for 5150, he just gave up trying to deal with a crazy person.

Three from group #3 failed because of RANGE QUALIFICATION.

My point, Group #3 folks get picked off first. As such, the study buddy dynamic of this group was always being interrupted, and those that remained were negatively effected and made staying in harder relative to those in 1&2.

As self sponsored, you have an uphill battle and far less support than your classmates.