What to expect in the Academy?

[commanderfluffy]

Hey everyone. I'll be going to the Lee Country Academy in 4 months and was wondering what to expect? I just want to know what to expect so I'm ready. Also have a question related to a the polygraph, I'm not to worried about it cause I have done nothing wrong...Other then I tried weed back in high school, So that was like 4 years ago I think. My mother has been a cop for 20 years, she told me to just be truthful about it when they ask about any drugs, and just explain how it was a one time thing back in school. Was just hopping that don't stop my chance of passing the test. I really cant wait to get into the Academy, been looking forward to it. I have big plans in this career. I asked the officer I been doing ride a longs with about swat, He said after 2 years of I could apply and try to join them. So that's the plan. Also If anyone knows the requirements to join the DEA that would be great. I'm hopping to work my way up to that point one day, maybe even marshals. One resin why I'm going back to collage for a degree so I can join other agency's like Marshals and DEA. I think they require a 4 year degree? I never really expected to pick this career path but then I actually just started looking into it and now I'm 100% sure its want I want to spend my life doing. As long as I'm helping others and making a difference then I'm happy.
And If this is a little sloppy to read, I apologies. I'm rushing it cause I have work in 30min lol. Thanks to any help you guys can provide me.

[Samuel]

Lee Country or County? How do you know you'll be IN the academy in 4 months - especially since you haven't taken the polygraph test yet? Is your background investigation COMPLETE? It's good to have goals but you're bouncing around like a hyperactive kid on crack - swat, dea, marshals - you haven't finished college yet and you haven't graduated the academy yet. Btw, if it's Lee County, WHICH Lee County - there are Lee Counties in TX, AL, GA, VA, FL, NC, MS, etc... Also, it would behoove you to practice proofreading...

[deputywave]

^^^ What he said. Especially, the proofreading!!

[G35 Mass]

I think you need a little reality check about a police officer's career.

While maybe a few departments allow officers to APPLY to a specialty position such as SWAT after two years, the chance of you being selected with such little experience on the job or huge military training is VERY slim. Two years is barely enough time to make a "decent" name for yourself, never mind the "great" name they're looking for in officers to run into situations with machine guns to save other officers' lives.

If you're looking to be a police officer because you want to be in SWAT, I suggest you look into something on the military side. It will take years to be a competitive SWAT applicant, and even then you'll likely be playing SWAT on a limited basis. Very few agencies in the country have full-time SWAT teams that aren't on patrol or other assignments and switch into tacticool mode on a per-call basis. In the military you'll get more than enough running and gunning if you're willing to pick a job that will find you humping the ground overseas with all sorts of cool guns, explosives, etc..

[retdetsgt]

Since I've been on this site, I've learned how different various academies are. From what I've been told, some have a boot camp atmosphere. Ours doesn't although it has some military aspects such as inspections, uniforms (of course), but you're not going to be yelled at unless you do something dangerous to yourself or others. I had a 16 week academy and to be honest, I didn't find it all that challenging. While some departments may use it as an opportunity to wash out people, we don't hire people unless we're pretty certain they can pass with no problem.