C.A.R.L.O.T.A Police Academy

[AzDogs]

I am curious if anyone has information regarding this academy. I am familiar with ALEA in the Phoenix area but haven't run into anyone that attended CARLOTA. Any general information (pt levels, various dress codes etc) would be appreciated. Thanks.

[corcop5811]

CARLOTA is in Casa Grande/Coolidge on the campus of Central Arizona College. It's definately a "low-stress" environment compared to ALEA, SALETC, and NARDA. Not as military, but definately they stress the academic side alot more than the others, so be prepared to study. Also since it's on a college campus, there are plenty of two-legged "distractions" which have been the downfall of many a CARLOTA cadet, so enjoy the view but don't get personal. Once you get kicked out of an academy for misconduct, its hard to get a second chance.
The dress code is simple. You're in dress pants and shirts w/ a tie for the first 2-4 weeks until the uniforms arrive (you'll order those in week one). The classroom uniform will be flat-front khakis and a CARLOTA polo shirt. The field uniform is jeans or BDU pants, CARLOTA t-shirt or sweater, and the CARLOTA trucker hat that I hated so much. You'll only wear your agency uniform on picture day and graduation day.
PT is not as stressful there. It's mostly who your PT advisor is that will determine what you do. Some are more oriented to running, while others are weights/cardio/sprints type of guys. It's pretty much luck of the draw on who you get. Our advisor was a runner, so we were hoofing it every PT session. Not too bad though if you're a decent runner. They start at about 1 1/2 miles and work up to around 4. Also they split us off into groups for the good runners and the bad runners (tortoises and hares, kinda). The director, when I was there, didn't like formation runs so it was mostly individual runs then, but he has since left. The new director might like the "comraderie" of formation runs which will suck worse for the slow runners who have to keep up with the jackrabbits in front.
Other than these things, it's the same training/standards as any other academy in the state. Just run slightly different because of it's location. Hope this helped...any more questions, let me know.

OUT

[cursed irishman]

I start CARLOTA on the 10th; anyone else going?

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

CARLOTA is in Casa Grande/Coolidge on the campus of Central Arizona College. It's definately a "low-stress" environment compared to ALEA, SALETC, and NARDA. Not as military, but definately they stress the academic side alot more than the others, so be prepared to study. Also since it's on a college campus, there are plenty of two-legged "distractions" which have been the downfall of many a CARLOTA cadet, so enjoy the view but don't get personal. Once you get kicked out of an academy for misconduct, its hard to get a second chance.
The dress code is simple. You're in dress pants and shirts w/ a tie for the first 2-4 weeks until the uniforms arrive (you'll order those in week one). The classroom uniform will be flat-front khakis and a CARLOTA polo shirt. The field uniform is jeans or BDU pants, CARLOTA t-shirt or sweater, and the CARLOTA trucker hat that I hated so much. You'll only wear your agency uniform on picture day and graduation day.
PT is not as stressful there. It's mostly who your PT advisor is that will determine what you do. Some are more oriented to running, while others are weights/cardio/sprints type of guys. It's pretty much luck of the draw on who you get. Our advisor was a runner, so we were hoofing it every PT session. Not too bad though if you're a decent runner. They start at about 1 1/2 miles and work up to around 4. Also they split us off into groups for the good runners and the bad runners (tortoises and hares, kinda). The director, when I was there, didn't like formation runs so it was mostly individual runs then, but he has since left. The new director might like the "comraderie" of formation runs which will suck worse for the slow runners who have to keep up with the jackrabbits in front.
Other than these things, it's the same training/standards as any other academy in the state. Just run slightly different because of it's location. Hope this helped...any more questions, let me know.

OUT

The idea of a formation run is that the slow people stay in front because you're only as strong as your weakest link.

What's the deal with AZ though, is it really beneficial to self-sponsor yourself at the academy there?

[TPDHellhound]

I am curious if anyone has information regarding this academy. I am familiar with ALEA in the Phoenix area but haven't run into anyone that attended CARLOTA. Any general information (pt levels, various dress codes etc) would be appreciated. Thanks.

I graduated from Carlota in 1994. Corcop has some good info, including the "distracters" warning. The part about "low stress" is up for debate, though. It's no more low stress than any other academy (I teach at SALETC). When I attended CARLOTA it was a 24hr academy, though. Things may have changed in the past 12 years.

CARLOTA does stress academics, but so do the other academies. In addition, there is paramilitary structure, drills, PT, DT, and everything else you may expect to find in a AZPOST academy.

The bonus is that there are lots of college students (aka "distracters") walking among you. The negative is that you can't fraternize with any of them if you want to continue! Three of my classmates were dismissed for this rule violation. :(

What's the deal with AZ though, is it really beneficial to self-sponsor yourself at the academy there?

Open Enrollment can be good if you want to work for a smaller agency with limited resources. Some agencies with only 5-10 cops can't afford to send people to the academy. So they hope people will pay their own way, and hire them upon graduation.

Unfortunately, this is a very expensive program! And the students are risking that they will not get hired, even when they graduate. If you don't get hired within 2 years of graduation, your Cert expires.

But CARLOTA works pretty hard to keep this from happening. They do their best to place the Open Enrollment Recruits. I went through the academy with 2 and both were hired the day they graduated.

[mdharris]

I graduated from NARTA, along with three other officers in my department. We had three goto Carlota, which only one made it through FTO. Talking with them, it was obvious that Carlota is non-stress, compared to NARTA. I will say its going to come down to what type of person you are. You will get out of it, what you put into it. Focus, focus, focus, and dont mess with the distractions (to much).

[tbknown]

I graduated from Carlota in 1994. Corcop has some good info, including the "distracters" warning. The part about "low stress" is up for debate, though. It's no more low stress than any other academy (I teach at SALETC). When I attended CARLOTA it was a 24hr academy, though. Things may have changed in the past 12 years.

CARLOTA does stress academics, but so do the other academies. In addition, there is paramilitary structure, drills, PT, DT, and everything else you may expect to find in a AZPOST academy.

The bonus is that there are lots of college students (aka "distracters") walking among you. The negative is that you can't fraternize with any of them if you want to continue! Three of my classmates were dismissed for this rule violation. :(


Open Enrollment can be good if you want to work for a smaller agency with limited resources. Some agencies with only 5-10 cops can't afford to send people to the academy. So they hope people will pay their own way, and hire them upon graduation.

Unfortunately, this is a very expensive program! And the students are risking that they will not get hired, even when they graduate. If you don't get hired within 2 years of graduation, your Cert expires.

But CARLOTA works pretty hard to keep this from happening. They do their best to place the Open Enrollment Recruits. I went through the academy with 2 and both were hired the day they graduated.

CARLOTA is an active adult learning environment through a para-military structure that promotes self-descipline! It has been this way for at least the past five years! It is a very HIGH-STRESS, physically demanding academy!!! Yes, it is on a college campus, but this not not make it any less of an academy than others. CARLOTA strives to produce the most qualified peace officers in tha state of Arizona. Please come out and visit any time....

[Citicop]

Tbknown-

Welcome to the forum!

If you intend to stick around, stop by the new member introductions area and post an intro so we know something about you...

Also, this thread has been inactive for more than FOUR YEARS. It's considered bad form here to revive long dormant threads. There are a wide variety of current threads you may participate in, or feel free to begin a new thread if you have something to discuss not covered by a current thread.

-Citicop.