Any advise for officers entering the field training phase?

[tanksoldier]

I should add I am a bit worried about the academic side of things, I'm not the best test-taker (or at least, I wasn't in high school). Any advice here?

Judas Priest, dude. Your biggest problem is overthinking.

There are complete morons in uniform, wearing a badge, carrying a gun, overweight, out of shape, doing the job just fine every day. If they can do it you can.

They don’t understand the law, they can’t write, they can barely talk. They have a job because their squad knows they can be counted on in a crisis, and they don’t lie when it matters.

They passed the academy and FTO despite being complete rocks.

What will fail you is inability to react in a crisis and ethical/ integrity issues.

In both the academy and FTO, figure out what you have problems with and spend enough extra time on that to pass.

If you’re good on something, let it ride. In the academy, once you graduate, nobody cares if you were high PT, high academic, whatever.

Dont spend extra effort trying to achieve something that doesn’t matter. All that matters is graduation.

Same with FTO. Have problems with geography? Put extra time in on that. If you’re good, put the extra time in on sleep and de-stressing.

You aren’t going to graduate FTO early. Nobody really cares if you’re a rock star or average. You’re still the rookie, you still get the crappiest car and worst shift bid. Do what you have to do to graduate. That’s it.

The trait you’re showing that will kill you, both literally and figuratively, is overthinking.

When you’re on your own you show up to a call and handle it. Whatever it is. Even if it’s something you’ve never seen before. Maybe you call for supervisor or more cars if it’s something big, or get on the phone for advice once things are under control, but that’s part of handling it.

You impose order on chaos, you figure out the root problem, and you address it appropriately.

FTO show up every day and handle it.

Academy show up every day and handle it.

[Ratatatat]

Really good post…

[angeredmgmt]

My academy buddy had his military reserve training during his field training, and he told me that after his two weeks away, he'd probably not return to field training. He told me that it was too hard, and that actual LE wasn't for him. He did return after his military training, and he eventually retired from our department. Many have a different experience in field training, but for most, it is stressful due to experiencing the actual practice of law on the street as opposed to the theory-based academy environment. Get past your academy and then the field training with the attitude you WILL pass both. Good luck!

[Bing_Oh]

Get past your academy and then the field training with the attitude you WILL pass both.

To a certain extent, yes. Confidence, not arrogance. If there's one way to get on an FTO's bad side, it's to be a know-it-all and not listen.