Academy Duty Gear

[Forensicdude]

OK, so I've been looking online, looking at threads in the duty gear section, but still wondering on a few things.

I need the following for the academy:

Baton
Baton holder
Duty belt
Cuffs
Cuff holder
Mag pouch, etc. you get my drift. Anyway, I'm going reserve, so I figure I should get the "better/best" stuff, but then I check, and a few departments actually supply all of this stuff to you. My question is, should I go for the better/best stuff, or should I get what's good enough to get me through the academy? Big difference between an expandable baton on amazon (26" for $25, vs. an ASP 26" for $90 plus). Same for the belts, cuffs, and pretty much everything else. I'm not complaining about the money, I just don't want to buy the really good stuff and have it sit around and never get used after the academy. You could always sell it, but you rarely get even 1/2 of the money back.

Just looking to see why you bought what you did.

[gmark340]

Check with your academy. They may be able to lend you some or most of what you need for the duration of the course so you don't have to buy it now. I was able to borrow a duty belt, holster, mag pouches and cuff case. I bought cuffs and cuff keys and borrowed a baton holder and baton just for that portion of the training. The academy supplied everyone with a plastic training gun (no real ones allowed). Unless you already have a general familiarity with the equipment you will be using, working with the borrowed equipment first gives you a chance to get used to it form personal preferences (cuffs with chain or hinge?). If you do decide to buy equipment, check with your agency as to any specific requirements: retention level for the holster, type of baton, etc., before you buy to make sure it will meet their requirements. Good luck!

[548cidakota]

OK, so I've been looking online, looking at threads in the duty gear section, but still wondering on a few things.

I need the following for the academy:

Baton
Baton holder
Duty belt
Cuffs
Cuff holder
Mag pouch, etc. you get my drift. Anyway, I'm going reserve, so I figure I should get the "better/best" stuff, but then I check, and a few departments actually supply all of this stuff to you. My question is, should I go for the better/best stuff, or should I get what's good enough to get me through the academy? Big difference between an expandable baton on amazon (26" for $25, vs. an ASP 26" for $90 plus). Same for the belts, cuffs, and pretty much everything else. I'm not complaining about the money, I just don't want to buy the really good stuff and have it sit around and never get used after the academy. You could always sell it, but you rarely get even 1/2 of the money back.

Just looking to see why you bought what you did.

You have a PM.

[Forensicdude]

Check with your academy. They may be able to lend you some or most of what you need for the duration of the course so you don't have to buy it now. I was able to borrow a duty belt, holster, mag pouches and cuff case. I bought cuffs and cuff keys and borrowed a baton holder and baton just for that portion of the training. The academy supplied everyone with a plastic training gun (no real ones allowed). Unless you already have a general familiarity with the equipment you will be using, working with the borrowed equipment first gives you a chance to get used to it form personal preferences (cuffs with chain or hinge?). If you do decide to buy equipment, check with your agency as to any specific requirements: retention level for the holster, type of baton, etc., before you buy to make sure it will meet their requirements. Good luck!

Thanks gmark,

I believe I will email her and see what they can loan me. What they can't, I will buy.

[Forensicdude]

If you go to a tech school program, they provide you with everything, even a pistol when it comes time for firearms

I believe the only one around me is the one on Old Milton. That's a night school and isn't covered by the Hope Grant. If, for some reason, I can't do the Athens academy, I will need something like that. It's good to know that they supply everything.

[gmark340]

I forgot to add, above, that when I went through Macon they lent me a new Glock 17 for firearms training, in addition to everything else.

[Forensicdude]

That's crazy! I know all the people in my class got the grant, which is why they went there. Sadly, it's not a degree program, so no PELL grant. Good luck.

I believe we have a thread on here where K9Bronco actually stated no Hope Grant for that specific academy, mainly because it's a private institution. They are working on some things, but the Hope doesn't cover it. Then again, I will sign up with that academy, if for some reason I can't go to the full time school.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/sho...63#post1898963

[Code10-15]

I am currently attending Reinhardt's first full time program..Nope, as of now, the HOPE grant does not cover this private academy.

We go to the range tommorow, and are being issued glock 17 9mm along with the holster, mag pouch, and 3 mags. All that we must provide is a basketweave leather gun belt.

[Forensicdude]

I am currently attending Reinhardt's first full time program..Nope, as of now, the HOPE grant does not cover this private academy.

We go to the range tommorow, and are being issued glock 17 9mm along with the holster, mag pouch, and 3 mags. All that we must provide is a basketweave leather gun belt.

How is that academy? Do they have their own firing range and EVOC course?

[Code10-15]

Nope, we're using Fulton County's range and EVOC course. I believe we're also using RAPSTC (Roswell Alpharetta Public Safety Training Center) for defensive tactics and things like that. We're learning a lot. We just finished criminal law and some other courses last week.

[DJKAHUNA]

I was talking to a friend of mine that suggested going to my local PD as inquiring about borrowing gear for the academy. Apparently it is a fairly common request. Since I know several I hope, once im accepted, to save myself about 3 months of rent. Cant hurt to ask.

[Forensicdude]

Are there uniform requirements at Reinhardt or Clayton?

[austratman23]

yes at clayton on uniform. Blue Dicky pants and kakhi dicky short sleeve shirt and boots and belt. So glad we are wearing BDU's now and not that uniform anymore..heh!

[Forensicdude]

yes at clayton on uniform. Blue Dicky pants and kakhi dicky short sleeve shirt and boots and belt. So glad we are wearing BDU's now and not that uniform anymore..heh!

Yeah, that sounds pretty bad