Week four-Twisted into a Pretzel

We have officially made it a whole month.  It seems as if we have been doing this for a year because of how much we have already learned and how close we have all become. 

This week we spent two days at the range and two days of Arrest Control.  Right when you think training cannot get any better...it does.  The firearms and arrest control instructors are absolutely incredible.   Not only is their experience and expertise valuable, but their patience and vigil towards  officer safety is outstanding.  I am literally taken back by the level of information we are being taught at the intensity we are being taught but even more taken back at the level of professionalism and knowledge of every single one of our instructors.

Each day I get twisted and turned and manipulated into a pretzel by one of my peers or even better by one of the instructors who can make even the biggest guy drop by the tiniest tweak in a movement.  Now I get to do the same techniques to the giants that are my peers. 

The range is a different animal.  Safety is numero uno.  Our weekly motto was "Safety first, safety always" and every move you make at the range has to be made with safety as priority.  The organization and structure of everything we do, not only at the range but in the academy, is well thought out.   If I can go through my day moving with a purpose and understanding that everything I say and everything I do must be with a purpose then my days will be great.

The range was awesome.  Not many of us have ever shot, and if we had it was not more than a time or two so many of us were learning for the first time.  Like all other "firsts" in the academy our first day at the range was officially a success.  Each instructor shares their expertise and even the slightest correction can make the biggest difference. 

It gets hot up on the range so imagine wearing your gear, with a hat, and "eyes and ears" and shooting for 4 hours....right!  Can you possibly imagine doing anything else?!  There IS nothing else.

We also had two full days of Criminal Code from Director Baca.  He is such a great teacher and his presence in the classroom is like no other.  We have a massive amount to learn and it all seems overwhelming but Director Baca's style and approach in how he presents the material makes everything a bit easier to understand.  Every instructor has very real stories that they share but Director Baca is very animated and makes sounds and uses his hands to tell the story.  He clearly knows how to capture an audience.

Next week is an exciting week for us.  We get to wear our academy uniforms.  Adios dress shoes that have been turned into workout shoes.  We have learned that you do not have to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes to workout; you can do pull ups in a nice button up, slacks, and shined shoes.  Air squats...a different story.  One of our recruits split the backside out of his dress pants doing air squats but the timing was impeccable as we needed a good laugh.  Sergeant could not even resist a good chuckle. 

We have completed Week 4 and I am sure I can speak for the rest of the team that there truly is nothing else we would rather be doing than going to academy for 9 hours and learning from the absolute best there is out there, going home and only having time to eat, play with the family for an hour, study, practice arrest control, practice our draw and weapon manipulation, complete any homework we have, sleep, repeat.