What is the FBI National Academy?

“As FBI National Academy graduates, these officers enter into a select group made up of less than one percent of the country’s law enforcement officers. ”

I have been asked this question quite a bit the past few months and I thought it might be easier to answer it all at once here. I have attached a few links at the bottom that will explain more thourghly what it is!

The National Academy, called the NA most times for short, is a 10 week ‘academy’ for law enforcement leaders from across the world. It is an invitation only course of study that gives the opportunity to learn about new trends in crime fighting, leadership, law updates, media relations, and about any other topics one in law enforcement should need to think about. It’s impressive the diversity of classes that are offered. All students also participate in a nutrition/physical  fitness program as well.

Upon successfully completing the course, students get college credit (under grad and grad level) through the University of Virginia. This aspect adds a serious legitimitacy to the whole experience.

Students from all over the world (they estimate about 10% of the students are international) live in dorms together, dine together, work out together, go to classes together. This bonding creates the ability to network with each other. Networking leads to conversations, where the students can really learn from each other and have open discussions . I’m told this is the most valuable part of the NA and I’m looking forward to this the most. Truth is, I learn better by having these sort of interactions.

A few other random things to mention about the NA-it’s located at the FBI’s academy in Quantico (I’ve never watched the show ha). It’s FREE! I know, nothing is free, but in this case the cost to the student and their agency is minimal. Room/Board and classes are free to the participants. It’s hard for some of these agencies to lose a valuable member of their staff for 10 weeks, having to not pay for it, makes life a little easier!

I’m pretty excited to attend and I hope to update this blog after I really know what I am talking about!

https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy/national-academy

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_National_Academy

VA mountains

Killing some time before the academy starts with the family. My in laws took us and the rest of the family on a tour of Skyline Drive near Front Royal VA. It’s a great drive through the Shenandoah National Park which features the Blue Ridge mountains. A neat part of this area is that the Appalachian Trail comes through here. Some day when I retire maybe I can talk Sarah into hiking the whole Appalachian Trail?

We have had a great trip visiting all of our friends and family out here and we have a few more to visit this week. Reality hasn’t really caught up to me yet. Soon enough it will!

Here is a pic of Sadie, Eli, Sarah, and I.




Sadie and I doing a selfie!

The Drive to Virginia

The drive to Virginia went well. We have made this trip at least a dozen times over the past several years! My wife’s family lives near Winchester VA, so the FBI NA works out well for me. I also have my brother in law in Baltimore and my Uncle in Washington DC. It will be nice to spend extra time with all of them on the weekends.

We left Waukee around 6:20am and we stopped for the night outside of of Columbus OH almost exactly 12 hours later. We like to try and knock out as much as we can (with kids) and that leaves a short drive for the next day. The kids did great on the car ride! We must have stopped about a dozen times, when a 4 year old tells you he has to go potty, you stop!

Little bit of pool time at the hotel, a decent meal, and we were on the road the next day. About 6 hours more through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Having lived in Iowa for so many years, I really love this part of the drive. It’s nice to see mountains and curves in the road.

For the next couple of weeks I will be hanging with family around Baltimore, Winchester VA, and DC. I will check in as it gets closer to NA time!

The point of these early posts are so I can learn how this works! Posting pictures has been challenging so far. I’m hoping I get better at it!

One last thing, our route. I suggest this route because I find it to be quicker and less tolls then other routes.

From Central Iowa:




I-80 to Davenport




I-74 to Indianapolis




I-70 to Columbus through Wheeling WV.

From there, depends on where you are going, but this route seems to work well for us.

Sunrise on the way.