248TH FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY: Week 3 and Going Strong...

Week 2 has come and gone, Week 3 is now upon us.

I see the weather reports from home (50’s and 60’s) and get a little homesick. We had a storm move through this weekend bringing snow, ice, rain and 30 degree temperatures. Not my idea of good weather.

The only thing that made the weather better this weekend is the few moments I got to spend each night on Skype with my most wonderful wife... (Smile Sweetie)

Field trip to Annapolis (U.S. Naval Academy) was cancelled this weekend due to icy road conditions. So a few of us went to a “back up plan” and, after a short drive to the Metro station, caught the subway into D.C. for some site seeing.

Lieutenant Bryan Paulsen from Washburn, Wisconsin and myself made the trek to the Museum of American History, Ollie’s Trolley for a burger, then to the new museum at Ford’s Theatre. We then returned to Quantico and took in a movie with several other students.

LT Bryan Paulsen, Washburn, Wisconsin

The Annapolis trip has been postponed until later in the Academy when (and if) the weather improves. I really want to see the retiring of the colors at sunset. We were told it is an amazing sight.

Annapolis trip being cancelled on Saturday

This week brings a full week of classes, 8 hours of classroom every day, along with a 2.6 mile challenge run, and a memory service at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Yours truly will be giving the invocation and helping with the event.

It is an opportunity to for all academy students to remember our friends and partners who gave the last full measure of devotion. Hopefully, I can post pictures of this event on Thursday.

P.T. is fun, but brutal. Due to the weather we cannot get outside as much for PT so cardio-stations in the gym, and hi-impact mat exercises are the norm for now. Knees hurt bad, but a little ibuprofen and a little ice each day has kept me going.

The academy itself has increased in population… the regular academy class, the national academy, an FBI analyst school, and a law enforcement executive development class are all in the same facility. Below are a few photos of the week..

Gen. George Washington's dress blues on display at the Museum of American History. Rescued from Mount Vernon in 1812.

My study group. (L to R) Pat Dumais of the ATF, Timmy Springer of the Royal Barbados Police, Matt Harshberger of Pittsfield, MI, and Wayne Stewart of Kansas City, Missouri PD.