Federal LEO Tests

[Wolfman]

When you are actually at a Federal LEO Academy - how tough are the academic tests?

For instance, I read that you have to get an 85% or better on 9 or so tests at the FBI Academy. So do they prepare you well for the tests or is it pretty much, study and hope you do ok?

I'm curious about it. I know in Police Academy they prepared us well - wasn't sure how things on the Federal side worked.

Thanks.

[Joeyd6]

When you are actually at a Federal LEO Academy - how tough are the academic tests?

For instance, I read that you have to get an 85% or better on 9 or so tests at the FBI Academy. So do they prepare you well for the tests or is it pretty much, study and hope you do ok?

I'm curious about it. I know in Police Academy they prepared us well - wasn't sure how things on the Federal side worked.

Thanks.

In my experience at FLETC, they give you just enough info so that if you at least listen, you will just squeak by. If you study and read as your supposed to, you rise to the top and end up with certificates for the wall.

[Group9]

You would have to try to fail them. I would put them at the level of introductory college courses (unless they have become harder since I went through). :D

[Kimble]

I can only speak for CITP and my agency add-on academy, but the tests in both were EASY. Most made high 80's or 90's. Those that were former local/state cops breezed through our exams as a lot of material was redundant. We did have one guy in CITP who barely passed some tests with low 70's (former US Border Patrol), but he was at the G-bar drinking every night. That in itself should tell you something, because if someone can drink every night and still pass, you have nothing to worry about academically.

Can't speak for FBI, DEA or USPIS academies, though.

[eighteen11]

I can only speak for CITP and my agency add-on academy, but the tests in both were EASY. Most made high 80's or 90's. Those that were former local/state cops breezed through our exams as a lot of material was redundant. We did have one guy in CITP who barely passed some tests with low 70's (former US Border Patrol), but he was at the G-bar drinking every night. That in itself should tell you something, because if someone can drink every night and still pass, you have nothing to worry about academically.

Can't speak for FBI, DEA or USPIS academies, though.

CITP was pretty easy (test wise). What add-on training did you go through?

[Wolfman]

Sounds like they train you to do well then. Glad to hear it. I appreciate everyone's input.

[BP348]

I agre with Group9 that the test are maybe at the introductory college courses level.

USBP academy is a bit different as you learn a different language. If I remember right we got 2+ years of college level Spanish in 5 months.

It seems like the native speakers had problems with the law while the non-native speakers had problems with the Spanish. That being said very few flunk out due to law but several flunk out because of the Spanish. I know I never cracked a Law book but spent several hours each night studing Spanish & I had a 89 average in Law but only a 78 average in Spanish. 70% was passing

It used to be said that if you could make it through the USBP academy you wouldn't have a problem with any other agency's academy. With our new kindler & gentler academy I don't know if that still holds true.

[Big Sexy]

With our new kindler & gentler academy I don't know if that still holds true.

Not to go off on a rant or tangent, but the NEW BP standards are going to come back to haunt you guys down the road.

There is no way in hell to take a just shy of 6 months long academy & condense it to what, 11 or 12 weeks, & still have agents trained to the same level as before.

Then dropping the post academy training, the 6 1/2 & 10 months exams. BIG understands they were nerve racking, having taken them himself, but those were a right of passage. Plus they ensured that your agents who didn't habla espanol were still studying & everyone was on top of the law.

One thing you knew & that no one could ever take away from you, was the sense of accomplishment & pride you felt as a Border Patrol Agent. You knew you earned that gold shield on your chest & that it wasn't given to you. Not after a grueling 6 month academy, 4 months of post academy classroom training, 6 1/2 month & 10 month exams, either which if failed, resulted in that shield being taken away with no hope of a second chance, learning the paperwork, learning your 10 codes, learning the area, learning the BP lingo, etc, etc.

Hell until you passed your 10 month, your @ss was a passenger, never a driver. Even then you knew you could be easily gone up until that 12 month mark, then you still had 2 more years until you reached career status, during which you could be removed. Not as easily as in those first 12 months months, but easy all the same.

BIG is saddened & pained for the patrol & the types that are being allowed to squeak by since the merger. :(