Week 1-The Fun Begins

After attending our "Session" gathering in the auditorium, noted that we have a total of 252 law enforcement officials from the United States, the District of Columbia and 28 foreign countries.  Indeed a true melting pot of police experience and knowledge.  Ranking officials are all equal here, from chiefs of police to sergeants.

The first thing some of us are informed of is that some classes were cancelled and we now had to go to "Add and Drop" to sign up for replacement classes and/or drop other classes and sign up for new classes.  Was an easy process.

The "session" was divided into "sections" and I am a member of the mighty "Section 3".  Got a bunch of great people in the section and our first section meeting, we met our counselor Paul.  Gave everyone the lowdown on what not to do or what you can do to get yourself a quick exit out the door.  All you gotta do is follow the rules.  Simple enough.

Attended our first bunch of classes and navigating through this academy facility was tough at first, but you get oriented real fast.

One thing that I decided to do was to start swimming and earn the "Blue Brick" for swimming 34 miles during the 10 week period.  The significance of the distance is the total miles from Quantico to DC.  I will soon find out that swimming isn't as easy as it appears.

Day 1-The Arrival in DC

After leaving Hilo, flying to Honolulu, then to Dallas Fort Worth, I finally arrived in Washington DC.  Got my 3 bags and 2 carry ons and got on the phone with the shuttle driver, who called me.  I asked him where he was and he asked me if I was wearing blue jeans and a light blue button down shirt and I asked him again where he was and HE WAS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME!!!!  Scared the beejesus out of me.  We loaded my bags in his Jeep and headed off to the National Academy, which was about 50 minutes away.  We stopped on the side of the Pentagon and I got a photo.  Got on the I-95 and was headed south in the HOV lane.  We got caught up in traffic a few miles before the exit to Quantico, but got there in good time.  Arriving at the NA, I unloaded my bags and the New Agents came and got my bags and he rolled them up to my room in the Washington Dorm, Room #415.  My room mate was not there yet, so I picked the bed next to the door.  Then went to the Atrium, got my photo ID and my card key to the facility.  Then did a tour of the entire facility and this place is HUGE!!!  Will need a GPS to get around, well not exactly.  Got something to eat and was on my own.  Will get back later.  ALoha