week 10 - graduation day

week 10

schedule week 10

Last week of NA 259 is gone.  Session 259  the great experience of knowledge, networking and  friendship finished on Friday 20th of March. It’s time to go home even the goodbye  is a hard cut. We are session NA 259 – we are 220 officers of 49 states all over the United States and 24 countries worldwide. After 10 weeks of living together in double-bed rooms, common classes, challenges, the Yellow-Brick-road, the Blue Brick challenge,  the International Night, social events, field trips to New York City, Washington D.C and other destinations, after  legendary board-room Karaokes colleguaes became friends. There is a spirit of a common understanding, pride and the will to continuing that strong band of trust and fellowship. Week 10 at Quantico was the preparation for  the graduation day and pause for the moment. We participated our last classes and enjoyed the lessons with our lectures. We also spoke thanks to our councelors and the staff (including cleaning and kitchen) for their support during session 259.  On Wednesday we received the Yellow Bricks and some of us also the Blue Brick. On Wednesday two hours of Graduation Rehearsal were scheduled. Everybody knew his seat number and the line up for graduation day. There were no surprises – everything was perfect prepared and trained before. Beyond the official schedule data we danced and celebrated on St. Patricks day with our own session 259 bagpiper, we all together performed „we are the world“ on Karaoke night. Week 10 was also a atmosphere of departure. Students stored their belongings in cars. We internationals tried to put everything in our suitcases – 23 kg each item, a real challenge.  For upcoming sessions- have a look in the basement of Washington Dorm (under the stairway near laundry room). There we left a lot of uniform items. In week 10 also the families arrived from all over US and the world at Quantico area.  Students guided their families trough the hallways of FBI Academy and particpated family luncheon.The hotels in region were good booked.  I also used the time to go out with Roberto, Xavier and Dick to visit the Aerospace Museum near Dulles. Time runs very fast. On Friday we received our graduation diploma during an impressing ceremony. from FBI director James Comey. After graduation we all said good-bye – a very emotional moment. Xavier and me were picked up by German liasion officer Christian Simon. We went for a dinner with French liasion officers in Christians house. Thank’s for hospitality and the excellent food, home-made by Christians wife. At 22.55 our airplane took of the ground of Washington-Dulles to Munich. Fortunately we didn’t stranded in the Lufthansa strike. I arrived home on Saturday afternoon.

Thank’s to the FBI-officials for the outstanding NA—program. Looking forward to keep in contact and develop the friend- and fellowship.

This was my last week summary of 10 weeks NA. Hope you enjoyed it a little bit.

Please give me a short feedback to: heiko.tesch@gmx.net

Thanks, stay well and take care

Heiko Tesch

last classes and thanks to the LKA for support my presentation

Brazil, France, Hongkong, Ucraine, Germany

one of us - St. Patricks day

I got both - the blue one was a real long-term challenge.

blue brick finishers in section 3

 the departments of section 3

thanks to Brian for supporting us - Derek spoke words of thank

purple brick goes to Hongkong 

Brian

look for the neighbours - win-win`?:-)

entrance of FBI Academy

ready to go home

Week 9 is done

schedule week 9

We just finished week 9. Only 5 days left for graduation day. Week 9 was close concerned to the Yellow Brick Road. Our PT instructors slowed the intensity of workouts a little bit down to be prepared for the Yellow Brick Road on Wednesday. In classes we heart more and less some final presentations of the students and started evaluation and feedbacks. 

learning on the floor

class presentation of my co-students

feedback meeting of the internationals with FBI unit chief Harrigan

Germany and Albania

forum presentation FBI Cyber Division

note for final exam - be prepared

floor 7 - sick students - the flu

I’m fine with my lectures and co-students. I got a lot of ideas, interesting conversations, discussions and lectures. I traveled to different locations on the Eastcoast, got hospitality in families of my US-students. I created an international network of police officers all over the world. I established friendships and will probably travel with my family to visited my international friends all over the globe. I learnt about America, it’s life-culture, diversity and it’s people.  I saw also a lot of weak-points and realized that our Germany society and also the European Polices forces are on a high level standard.

gun-violence in traffic stops - a typical US problem

On Wednesday we passed the Yellow-Brick-Road. It’s a 6.1 (about 11 kilometres) obstacle course oft he US-Marinecorps. For the US-Marines it’s a duty of basic education. Further only the member oft he FBI-National Academy are alowed to run that course. It’s a great honour and also a challenge. I run with Xavier from France in the fastest group. We jumped into cold water creeks, climbed obstacles, run  up and down through the slippery forests, passed tactical manöver of the US-Marines with gunshot noises– after 1hour and 10 minutes we finished successful. Next week we’ll receive the yellow brick to take home.

I got both - the blue brick for 34 miles swimming and the yellow brick.

fighting the Yellow Brick Road

final sprint

We passed the course together - France and Germany

Craig from UK and me after finishing Yellow-Brick-Road

Internationals after finishing Yellow Brick Road

Rest of the week we leaked our wounds. PT on Friday was also moderate. We passed a light fitness-course in pool with aqua gymnastik, and exercises.

I also rent a car to be a little bit more flexible and independent during the last days. So I used the time to drive around.

rent a  car and ride outside Quantico

Thursday I passed last final examination succesfull – everything is done now.

The weekend we (Xavier, Roberto and me) spent in Washington D.C. We were invited to the liasion officers of Bundespolizei  and BKA and received outstanding hospitality. We slept in their house, ate real good German food (I was so happy to have real bread and a Flensburger;-), we went out for museum-mall in D.C., stepped into night life of Georgetown in an Irish pub. On sunny Sunday we got a tour in the German Embassy and drove up to the Potomac falls. Thank you, thank you Werner and all German officers for hosting us. It was a great weekend with you.  In the Sunday afternoon we visited the Arlington Cemetery and watched the military-ceremony.

Impressions from weekend in Washington D.C. with German liasion officers of Bundespolizei and BKA

Xavier, Roberto, Werner and me in D.C. at the "Mall"

Impressions from National Art Museum

Xavier and Napoleon - two French

German Embassy in Washington

Werner, Roberto, Xavier in National Art Museum Washington D.C

transportation to club scene in an old buick - awesome

nice evening with German liasion officers, embassy members and
NA students at Irish Pub - Georgetown

Irish life music at Re A

German "Frühstück" (breakfest) in the German house - proudly served by Werner

Werner at German Embassy

Potomac falls

At Potomac falls

Xavier, Pierre, Matt, Roberto and me at Arlington Cemetery (in background Washington D.C.) 

US-Marines Memorial in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.

impression of Washington D.C.

Arlington Cemetery

tomb of J.F. Kennedy and his wife

 Now we are at week 10. It’s the graduation week.  Many US-students are waiting for their families from all over the USA. It’s business time for hotels all around Quantico.

Last update I’ll do next week after returning to Germany. I’m really looking forward for my family and my home.