Fletc ice-d class #933

[BRANXXL]

Hello family!

I have my EOD in Phoenix (Florence duty station) for Sept. 14th and I begin FLETC on the 16th, class 933. Anyone else? Any last min. advice? What should I bring? I do have a question about footwear. Are black mid-top nikes OK for day-day classroom uniform? I'd love to hear from anyone else that is going to be in my class.

P.S. Thank you SIERRA for all the help and advice over the past few months.

[charlydevo]

Congratulations and good luck.

As far as footwer, I believe that you'll be issued a uniform, to include boots. You will want to bring high quality running shoes and good socks.

[Sierra]

He will get the Danner Striker GTX as part of his initial issue of work uniforms. However, he will still need to have good shoes or boots to run around in while using the smurfs or grapes because the initial issue won't be in for a month or so.

As far as I recall, the shoes needed to be all black and polishable. If they are not, you will need to get some. I strongly recommend that you invest in a good pair of boots (my preference) with an athletic sole. Do not get slick soled shoes; you will be doing the obstacle course in your 511's, duty belt and a pt shirt, not in pt gear. Different officers have different likes in footwear; we have covered the topic several times.

Get a good pair of running shoes, not crosstrainers. I recommend being fitted for them. If you will be in the Phoenix area, I use a store on the NE corner of Rural and University in Tempe whose name I can't recall. They will make sure you get the right shoe for your stride, which can help avoid injuries during pt.

The Academy has a suggested list of items to bring for the BP academy. We are about the same (but you won't need cassettes). You can rent a tv and vcr at the FLETC Express if you are in the crackhouses. Don't even think about a bicycle for school hours. Bring/buy a good alarm clock. I was late my first day of actual classes because I was up prepping uniforms, reading the required materials, etc. After that I had a new digital alarm clock, a windup alarm clock, my cell phone correctly set (was on vibrate in a leather case), and a wake-me-up buddy. You can buy alot of incidentals (darn, I wish I had brought ...) at WalMart. Eat at Five Guys Burgers and Fries when you go to Target.

Keep working out, but don't hurt yourself before you get there.

[BRANXXL]

What about Mid-quarter or lower cut boots from Magnum or Hi-Tec? are they OK? or do I need above the ankle boots to wear with the shorts?

[BRANXXL]

oh...and a rookie question, I know, but...what are smurfs or grapes?

[Sierra]

What about Mid-quarter or lower cut boots from Magnum or Hi-Tec? are they OK? or do I need above the ankle boots to wear with the shorts?

You are wearing them; you decide what you want. I can't overlay my preferences on you any more than anyone else can. I am Dove certain (99.44%) they need to be polishable, that is it.

Your uniform will be 5.11 pants. The only shorts you will wear as a uniform are PT. Wear running shoes.

[Sierra]

oh...and a rookie question, I know, but...what are smurfs or grapes?

Smurfs is the name given to the dark blue pant and baby blue polo FLETC basic students wear. You will use that uniform for your 5 week Spanish course.

Grapes are what I call the ICE uniform. It is a purple or dark blue (depending on how old) polo with khaki 5.11s.

[BRANXXL]

Perfect!! Thanks for the info!

[maverick487]

I'll be there. I EOD in Raleigh, NC 9/14.

[BRANXXL]

Does anyone know how FLETC handels holidays..(christmas)..do you get a few days off.

[xsvspd]

Hey class #933 here too. I EOD on 9/14 in San Antonio.

[Joeyd6]

Does anyone know how FLETC handels holidays..(christmas)..do you get a few days off.

You just don't get "days" off in the federal system. You get the federal holidays off (see OPM website for current list). Then you get your two days a week off. Sometimes FLETC has you working a 6 day week. Thus you get 1 day off that week. Since you are in training, there is not much you can do if you get stuck on the FLETC 6 day schedule. If you want any more time than that, you have to use your annual leave.

You will get the Holiday off. I was there on Thanksgiving and we worked normal hours the day before, unless there is an early release which is not usually announced until the week of. X-mas is a Friday this year. You will definitely have off Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If FLETC doesn't do an early dismissal or the President give the order, then you have to use leave to get off Christmas Eve. And FLETC will not say "You can skip Dec 24 if you use 8 hours of leave." One idiot would say "No, I want to stay here and I am not using leave, ruining it for everyone." It is a big deal because each agency has to be notified and your leave entered.

Also, keep in mind if weather is bad where you live, and you can't land on Sunday for your Monday class, you may have huge problems. That does not go over well and they don't care you went home and the flight was canceled for weather. They look at it as you put something ahead of your career and training.

I suggest you plan now for working Thursday and having Friday off. A wise choice is to fly family in on Wednesday or Thursday to YOU at FLETC. Stay the weekend and fly out on Sunday. If not feasible, relax, there are plenty of folks who will be there and you make the best of it. It's one holiday away from the family. Get used to it. In law enforcement, most of us miss the majority of the holidays and special events in our loved ones life's.

[Maverick24]

Just to further illustrate what Joey said (im at FLETC right now) we were just told that we have thanksgiving off, but we have to use annual leave for the friday after (unless the president gives us that day). Also what he said was very true about flights home. The only time it really is worth it to fly home is on a 3 day or 4 day weekend. And even in that case you should take the early flight back just to be safe.

[BRANXXL]

Thank guys..but actually, Class 933 is sched. to be completed Dec. 17th, with ICE-Spanish TBA after that....will they start immediatly after?