Cop training vs Military

[RonJ]

I just saw a story on CBS about the CHP hiring new cadets. There was mention of a grueling training program. Who has trained for both military (basic) and civilian police? Is one much more tough than the other. I don't expect that small town police would have the resources for extensive training.
Just a curiosity thing.

 

[Harrison]

I think when you compare LEO and military training you are comparing apples and oranges. Plus, you didn't specify which branch of the military.

 

[RonJ]

I think when you compare LEO and military training you are comparing apples and oranges. Plus, you didn't specify which branch of the military.

OK, we're both ex army so lets go from there. Basically I want to know if they run your a*s off during LEO training.

 

[MKT]

I can tell you the Border Patrol did, and we PT'd hard afterward too. Did a lot of 6-10 miles runs through the woods and swamps of SE Coastal Georgia. I loved it.

But that was 27 years ago and the Academy curriculum has changed a bit plus other OWCP issues have had them reduce the runs to more more than twice the distance of the PT final run, so nothing longer than a three mile run. I believe the trainees still march in formation from one class location to another.

Not quite boot camp but not a cake walk either.

 

[yaktamer]

I found Army OSUT (I was an MP) to be physically more challenging, but the academy (Los Angeles County SO) to be more psychologically stressful, in the sense of being more under the microscope more of the time. I suppose it depends a lot on the particular branch/department involved.

 

[kraigwy]

I went to both, compared to Army Basic in 1966, my LE training (physical part) was a joke. But that was a while ago, spring of '74. Probably a bit different now.

But the job is so much different LE doesn't need that kind of physical training. Think about it, one job requires you to hump a ruck 40 miles or so, the other requires you to set in a patrol car for 8 - 10 hours.

 

[4506517]

My PT instructors were sadists. I can remember doing a 5 mile run in the sleet/snow. We ran or did cardio M, W, F, and did strength training on T and TH. At the beginning of the Academy they took our lunch hour and had us on the Nautilus equipment everyday instead of lunch. We were also required to keep a daily food dairy which was inspected every morning. I was never in the military, but my academy experience was a tense and tough 5 months followed by another tough 3 months of field training which was followed by another 3 tough months of solo patrol. Then they decided if they were going to keep you.

 

[RonJ]

Then they decided if they were going to keep you.

Congrats, it appears you made it!

 

[Muley Gil]

"I don't expect that small town police would have the resources for extensive training."

Small town PDs don't do their own training. They send their police recruits to a regional police academy.

Every state has different standards. When I went through the academy in '79, there was very little PT. My class went for 6 weeks. Some states have a six month academy.

The Marine Corps was a little bit different!!!!!!!!!!!!!