FBI National Academy, session 259 - my yellow brick road: Februar 2015

Donnerstag, 26. Februar 2015

week 6 and trip to Leroy County Ohio

schedule week 6

Week 6 is almost done.

I’m a little bit late with updating the blog, but we had busy days. No time for relaxing, even when Quantico classes were closed on tuesday (weather – code red). Here they are a little bit nervous about some snow flakes in D.C. – but it’s okay. Otherwise a lot of paperwork. I got my first results of examination and had to pass Midterm examinations. I appreciate the group discussions with my internationals. We are all teamplayers and work together. So we met in libray and prepared examination in small working groups. It worked, we all passed examinations successful with high level grades. So I feel fine. But there is still a lot to do. The time frames are close. We got a lot of additionally (mandatory) events. So I usually worked until 1am each morning on my own papers. Not a good deal for sleeping needs – but it’s the National Academy and I’ll stand it. That’s why my report will be a little bit shorter. Daily routines are quite the same. I changed a little bit „Blue Brick Challenge – went in for swimming at 11pm. It was nice to swim alone for myself. Only 4 miles left to complete. In classes we got another interesting lectures (Fort Hood shooting, Sandy hooks shooting, Fergueson).

analysis class - high efforts and standards

leadership-class

guest speaker from Florida with case study

officers in crisis class

psychology presentation for debriefing officers in crisis

pt-impressions

theoretical sports and nutrition science

Hongkong and Albania

EJ O'Malley my health and fitness instructor and me

my damaged swim-goggles after 30 miles - 4 left for Blue brick

On Wednesday I visited the German Embassy in Washington D.C. They will assist during International Night in week 7.

KD Christian Simon from BKA and me at German Embassy in Washington D.C.

Thank’s for support. During the weekend me and Ken from Grenada were invited to Ohio by my US-mate Shawn Parker. We left Quantico at Friday and took a 8 hour trip to Leroy Township. It was a really nice weekend. We spent time with Shawns family, stayed in his house, got self-made pancakes at morning. We received heartful hospitality by family Parker with their smart lovely boys. On Saturday afternoone we went to Cub-Scout and Boy-Scout meeting, visited his police department in Kirtland Hills, the lovely country-side with parks and got a interesting introduction at emergency center of Mentor. At least we did the remake of „Cool Runnings“. Look the funny video of wintersports with Grenada. Ken freezed but he did it. I knew Lake Erie only by the poem of „John Maynard“ before. On Sunday i took my first own steps on the frozen lake Erie –amazing. We went back to Quantico at Sunday afternoon and arrived at midnight. Thanks Shawn for the nice weekend.

Impressions from Ohio

home of family Parker - Leroy County Township

American Cub- and Boyscouts - the smart sons of Parkers

Harry the dog - Ken and me

in family

legendary selfmade breakfest pancakes - made by Shawn

remake of "Cool Runnings" - Ken from Grenada sleds first time in snow

snapshot fire brigade in action

Cubscoutmeeting - social active family Parker

Shawn as cubscout representative - great job for development of youth

Kirtland Hill Police Department

Kirtland Hill Police Vehicles

at entrance of Kirtland hills department

At lake Erie - you know "John Maynard"?

impressions from lake Erie

Shawn and me

8 hours on Interstate for drive back to Quantico

end of week 6 - update next week (hopefully a little bit earlier)

Donnerstag, 19. Februar 2015

week 5 and weekend trip to Sevierville/Tennessee

schedule week 5

It’s almost half-time of session 259. Weeks are always hurry. Just started and always finished.

Time is the most valuable resource at Quantico. Days are full scheduled with classes. After classes regular events are following. If there is „gap“ you always think about to finish some home- or paperwork to pass all examinations.

countries of international students

states of domestic students

Week 5 was another intensive week with lots of inputs and outstanding guestspeakers (e.g.NCIS) during the classes. We talked a lot about subjects and special topics like leadership, effective homicide investigations, crime analysis and risk levels, cases studies (Washington Sniper), balistics, social behaviour and organization development. Listening and understanding required a lot of attention and additional reading. At physical training we also reached a higher level – the impact of permanent training is obviously. I feel much stronger and in a better shape. I normaly go in for sport 2 hours a day (including Blue Brick and voluntary exercises). I only moved out the Marine Base on Tuesday. I went with Matt and Pierre to Potomac Mills to buy some stuff for our families. We finished the day with a pizza outside the Marine base.

The hours beside official data I used to keep connection to my family and network with my students. It’s still fun to talk to my fellows from all over the world and the United States. There are small things we laugh about – atmosphere is still great. The FBI-dormitories live – I see my fellows anywhere and anytime- even at midnight in library or washing the laundry. Everybody is busy to manage allday belongings but also open for a conversation.

class impressions

homicide investigations with chief of NCIS

crime analysis- case study

estimation of risk level in behavioral sciences and crime

handling stress and PTSD (Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder)

lecture from Ontario Police -Canada

election of graduation speaker for class 259

Bobby Smith presentation - lost his ability to see by shooting with suspect

finished paperwork - one of about 13

international students in uniform at IACP dinner

South-Korea, France, Germany

On Friday Matt, Pierre and me drove to Sevierville/Tennessee. Matt invited us for long weekend to his home-town. Monday was a holiday because of „presidents day“. Police department Sevierville rented an apartment for us. We arrived about midnight. Next day Matt picked us up for breakfest. Then we got a tour trough Sevierville with lots of impressions and had lunch with his family. In the afternoon we visited the local police-department. Matt is patrol-captain and also one of two police chief deputies. The hierarchy in U.S. law enforcement is very slim and straight (officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, chief). Matt develops new strategies for regional enforcement and comprehensive relationships to other authorities and institutions. He really loves his home town and it’s people. I went for a couple of hours on patrol with the new trafic-vehicle and further with a police car. I was involved in two 911 emergency call-missions when we helped two disabled older ladies to get back on her feets. Next day we went out to explore nationalpark „Smoky Mountains“. Matt showed us most beautiful lookout points and information-center for visitors. Later we explored the „Moonshine“destillery – one of the most popular spirituous beverages of Tennessee. On Monday after lunch we drove back (in a heavy snow-storm) to Quantico. Thank’s Matt for an unforgettable weekend and hospitality.