Preparing myself for FBI National Academy

 

 

Why this blog?

In a couple of days I'll leave  for the United States to attend  FBI National Academy. It will be an intensive course and I will be away for a couple of weeks. This blog should be an opportunity to keep in contact with colleagues and friends from Germany and all over the world.  I'll intend to update my experiences, illustrated with pictures, once a week. If you like- follow my blog and leave a short message to get in contact.

 Application Phase

 

It was 2011 when I heart first time about FBI National Academy. During my former responsibility in the Landeskriminalamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LKA -State Department of Criminal Investigation) I got in contact to FBI liasion officers in Berlin and Frankfurt/Main. They asked me to join FBI National Academy in Quantico. It was a great honour to get that potential opportunity from FBI. At that time I requested LKA-director Ingolf Mager and ministery of interior to support my application. I got approval and full support. Next step was proceeding  FBI National Academy nomination and selection phase in 2011-2012. Special thanks to former FBI-liasion officers Special Agent Christine Awender, Special Agent Alexander Murray and current Legal Attachè Jason Kruger. It was a hugh challenge to pass telephone language test with three lectures from Washington D.C., written test, a lot of paperwork  and extensive medical check successfully.  It worked. Primary my participation at FBI National Academy was scheduled for spring 2013 but I had to change depending on familiar circumstances. So I'm very glad to get opportunity to participate session 259 in January 2015. Special thanks to my current chief Polizeipräsident Thomas Laum who also supported my application when I started new responsiblity in 2012 at Polizeipräsidium Rostock, Polizeiinspektion Wismar.

 

 

 Current Preparation for NA





 

I'm just preparing FBI National Academy participation on different stages.  I created a personal check-list including all administrative, logistical and personal matters.

 

At first it's important to get information. I'm in contact to FBI-liasion officer Jason Kruger as well as BKA-FBI liasion officer Washington D.C. Christian Simon.

I also read the National Academy Orientation Booklet.  Further I talked to FBI-NA graduates like Klaus Mirsch from LKA Niedersachsen and other fellows from Bundeskriminalamt and Austrian Police. Special thanks to all!  It's also very useful to read latest FBI NAsession blogs about experiences of participants. It gives a realistic imagination and picture what will be happen and expected at Quantico. There are often useful recommendations for the following participants.

 

In Germany I finished  the internal administrative paperwork and travel preparations for the United States. Special thanks to head of my local Police Department, Dr. Michael Peters. He'll shoulder allday business and management at Polizeiinspektion Wismar without deputy for a couple of months during my stay at Quantico.

 

One of the most important basics are regulations of family matters and social relations with friends. I'll be away from home for 10 weeks without any possiblitiy to assist as a family member in allday-life. It's a big challenge. My daily duties will be done by the other family members, especially my wife.  We agreed solutions, processes and communication channels. I really have to thank my wife for backstopping me.

 

Regarding my direct preparation for FBI National Academy, session 259 I selected and signed up my courses on FBI-Virtual Academy platform. Currently I prepare course related material from my work-experience to implement. Further I  prepare/collect general presentations, give-aways, pictures for introduction of German police, my state and further more. It's a result of teamwork, because I got support from all around. Special thanks to my colleagues who supported my preparations.

 

On physical field I intensified PT-workout program and running. I heart about daily sports-program and challenges like the Yellow-Brick-Road and the Blue-Brick-Challenge. I'll be prepared and looking forward to my FBI-fitness instructor E.J. O'Malley.

 

By the way I almost use  every chance to improve my English skills. My international contacts on Skype and Mail are very helpful to train myself for Quantico.  Hope to stand the language standard at Quantico very fast. I bought special police dictionary and read international reports, papers to enlarge my professional vocabulary.

 

However, looking forward to National Academy and my upcoming session-mates. See you at Quantico.

 

 

Heiko Tesch

About FBI National Academy

The FBI National Academy is a long term training program at Quantico, Virgina.

Founder of the National Academy was former FBI Director J.Edgar Hoover. First session was held in July 29, 1935.
 

The overall goal of the FBI National Academy is to support, promote and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic and contentemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating high excellence in education, research and establish trustful partnerships throughout the world.

There are four sessions each year, roughly corresponding to the seasons spring, summer, autumm and winter. Each season 250 - 300 senior officers, most of them from the United States, participate. The National Academy Session is 10-11 weeks in length. Since 1962 the FBI National Academy is open for international partner nations.

At least  participation is by invitation only. Participants have to pass a strict competitive nomination and selection process successfully.

 

The FBI-National Academy Curriculum is ambitious and focuses on development of leadership in different perspectives. Critical, progressive and innovative thinking is explicit requested. Experiences will be shared. FBI National Academy courses offering different topics combined with leadership, legal issues, behaviroal sciences, forensic science, law enforcement communication, fitness/health. Courses are also accredited through University of Virgina.

Regular outstanding experts from law enforcment, public administration and economy lecture in Quantico about latest developments and personal experiences.

 

 

vgl. U.S. Department of Justice, National Academy Orientation Booklet. (2014), S.1.1ff

 

 



Arrival at Quantico

Friday 09th of January I spent last day with my family. We had tasty Raclette together laughed a lot and had a good time as family. Later I finished to pack up my baggage and taxed each item to 23 kg. In the dark of early Saturday morning I left home for a long time. There are two coins of a medal one-to be away and the other- looking forward to FBI National Academy. My wife and me arrived Hamburg-Aiport at 08.30am, took a parking-lot and checked in my baggage.  When we had to say goodbye she surprised me with a little present of selfmade cookies and a lucky charm. Thank’s for that and your backstopping.

Airplane to Frankfurt took off just on time. Arrival at Frankfurt required another  transit stay to continue Intercontinential flight for the United States. I bought last „German“newspapers, took a deep breath and started journey. Depending on stormy wheater flight arrival at Washington Dulles delayed for half an hour.  However, I was glad to move a little bit after about 9 hours Lufthansa-Economy. I had to wait two hours in US-immigration lane. Made a call to BKA-liasion officer Christian Simon for spoting at Starbucks after completing procedure. At 6pm local time I got it. Christian picked me up carried me by car to Quantico. We arrived on area of US-Marine Base at 7pm. Thanks to the BKA liasion desk to support me that way. First impressions: large area, deep forests, strict controls at different checkpoints (US-Marines, FBI Police). After entering main hall of FBI Jefferson building I was welcomed by Supervising Special Agent Mike. He helped my to manage my luggage and got me a first tour in FBI-complex. Michael is on of 6 FBI-Councellors. They are all honoured, experienced Supervising Special Agents from FBI Field branches across the USA. The Councellors come for 10 weeks to Quantico to deal with the National Academy students as a point of contact and manager for allday belongings. Each Councellor got’s responsibility for a section (class). Especially at the beginning of courses they are permanent in charge.  I assigned to section 3. My Councellor is SSA Brian.

He is a very tough guy and so helpful. I got my badges for room, meals and a special ID-Card. I reached room, left my luggage and went back to Cafeteria the so called „Board-room“. First of my upcoming international session mates also arrived. There are officers from 25 countries. I started up first conversation to my buddies from Brazil, Costa Rica and Albania. We laughted together when we talked about Football match Germany – Brazil during World Championship. I met Captain Xavier from France. He came from Paris and told about the attack at Charlie Hebdo.

On Sunday we explored basement (gym, class-rooms, locker rooms, pool, library etc.) and got lost in space. It’s a hugh complex with floors, stairways. Everything seems a little bit confused because it looks the same. I had to manage my ways to different spots – but my session-mates also got the same problems. In the afternoon first colleagues from United States arrived. Everybody is friendly, polite and motivated. Most words are „Hey-how are you?“ „Great to see you!“ There is a spirit of common understanding, pride and honour to be part of this FBI program. We sit together and I became first lessons in American Football – everybody is watching the current Play-offs of NFL and College League.

Parallel the new FBI-recruits also came to Quantico. Young women and men in smart suits. They getting 18 weeks basic education to become FBI Agents.

I  signed up and started to pass „Blue Brick“ Challenge. It’s a 34 miles (55 km) swim-contest that contains distance between Quantico and Washington DC.  If you pass it during your 10 weeks stay you’ll earn a blue brick. I decided to do that. My intensions require to pass one mile a day in the early morning. We’ll see.

What about accommodation? It reminds my to my stay at senior police university DHPol Münster. Normally all NA-participants get room-mates. Unfortunately I didn’t get a room-mate. Internationals get combined with domestic students. It seems that my room-mate had to quit NA-participation depending on familiar circumstances. The setting of my room is functional, space is limited but it’s okay. I manage myself and structure everything (clothes, course-material, accesses), fill the boxes. By the way I complete switched to English. There is only one guy from Switzerland that talks German. We made an appointement to communicate in English.

Conclusion:

I arrived safe. Everything is new. The agents and session mates are very kind and helpful. The basement is still unknown and seems strange. I have to forget my German language for a while.  All are looking forward to the following 10 weeks of session NA 259.

Update follows after passing week 1.