Academy Advice

[scott72]

The academy is not hard, but it was not what I expected. The Criminal Law and Search/Seizure classes were the hardest, with a lot of hours riding on each. Unless you make the instructors mad, you won't do distance runs more than once every other day. The hardest part is trying to stay healthy during the duration. Everyone got little nagging injuries that stuck with them. Shin Splints was the most common in our class. Just remember everyone in your class is part of your team and you help one another out. Nothing quite like getting done with your run and turning around and seeing a little blue dot on the horizon and knowing you gotta go get that person. Don't complain about it, just run back and help them.

After I graduated, I hated the place and never wanted to see it again. Now I look back with fond memories of my friends there and I realize it wasn't too bad. Like Chillers said, sleep in a bag, I made my bed one time during the academy. Keep your room neat. Each instructor has a different hang up during inspections, ie one likes the closets just so, another checks for dust. If you nap during your lunch hour, make sure your bed is inspection ready in the afternoon. Get the hard copies of the books offered when you start the academy. Otherwise you have to look at the computer screen to study. Get extra PT clothes, otherwise expect to stink by Friday. I had five sets and I got through it with that.

Take some snack food with you. Once the cafeteria is closed, that's it. The PX is open one evening a week, but they don't have much. Make sure you take your shoe shine kit.

As long as you use your head, you'll be fine. Don't do stupid things or say stupid things, and don't **** off your classmates.

Covman

Excellent summary. I couldn't of put it better myself..I still run and I've been out for 6 years..I miss it if you can believe that. It was a lot of fun, especially the evenings when we got to leave..

[covman454]

The academy is not hard, but it was not what I expected. The Criminal Law and Search/Seizure classes were the hardest, with a lot of hours riding on each. Unless you make the instructors mad, you won't do distance runs more than once every other day. The hardest part is trying to stay healthy during the duration. Everyone got little nagging injuries that stuck with them. Shin Splints was the most common in our class. Just remember everyone in your class is part of your team and you help one another out. Nothing quite like getting done with your run and turning around and seeing a little blue dot on the horizon and knowing you gotta go get that person. Don't complain about it, just run back and help them.

After I graduated, I hated the place and never wanted to see it again. Now I look back with fond memories of my friends there and I realize it wasn't too bad. Like Chillers said, sleep in a bag, I made my bed one time during the academy. Keep your room neat. Each instructor has a different hang up during inspections, ie one likes the closets just so, another checks for dust. If you nap during your lunch hour, make sure your bed is inspection ready in the afternoon. Get the hard copies of the books offered when you start the academy. Otherwise you have to look at the computer screen to study. Get extra PT clothes, otherwise expect to stink by Friday. I had five sets and I got through it with that.

Take some snack food with you. Once the cafeteria is closed, that's it. The PX is open one evening a week, but they don't have much. Make sure you take your shoe shine kit.

As long as you use your head, you'll be fine. Don't do stupid things or say stupid things, and don't **** off your classmates.

Covman

[lewy15]

were are you gonna be working iowapride??

[chillers06]

I am currently in the academy. I do not think it is real hard. If you are running you should be fine. I was worried about the running before I started but it is not as bad as I thought it would be. As for academics, if you have taken any criminal justice classes in college you will probably find most of the classroom stuff easy. They try to help everyone through the academics as much as possible because they do not want people to fail. Also, make sure you buy a good pair of running shoes. Some guys in my class bought cheap ones and they are paying for it. Bring a sleeping bag too. Everybody sleeps in their sleeping bag so they dont mess up their bed so they dont have to make it in the morning. Bring a pair of high gloss shoes or a second well shined pair of boots also. Wear your shined up boots or shoes for inspection in the morning and then change to a different pair for the rest of the day.

Good luck

[BlessedIsHe]

I had a blast in my academy and met alot of good people. Other than PT you cant really prepare, they dont expect you to know it all yet. Just keep running and study your materials and you'll be fine. Good Luck...

[iowapride]

How did the academy go for everyone? Anything you wish you done different or prepared for a little more? I'm running around 3 miles every other day. Any advice at all would be apprecieated.