First Week of Academy
Tuesday
Academy officially started on Tuesday since we had orientation on Monday. We started the day by raising the American, state, and county flags. We then had a very long class on harassment. Informative yet boring. We also heard from a few other people about a few other things. After lunch, we had our first physical training (PT). I was amazed at how difficult it was, even though we only did one forth of what was to come. I won't get into detail about the different exercises we do, because it doesn't sound so gruesome on paper. After taking down the colors we were dismissed.
Wednesday
I slept soundly since I was exhausted from the PT, so it was a little bit easier to wake up at 5:00. We had class until lunch. After lunch we began our physical fitness test. This was the first of three. The second will be mid-way through the academy, and the third will be one of the deciding factors of graduating. We were tested on several strength tests as well as a mile and a half run. I went home sore on Wednesday.
Thursday
Our morning class consisted of learning all about OC (pepper spray) since we were getting sprayed during the day. We learned the different deployment techniques to utilize in the field, the effects, the different types of OC, the history, and terms to use in court that will make us sound smart.
After the class finished, we proceeded to a large empty parking lot. EMS arrived to oversee the process, and the academy major showed up with his video camera for some fun. After being sprayed in the face for two seconds from a distance of three to six feet, we were to pick up a baton, run 15 feet to a person holding a pad, attack the person 10 times while yelling things like, "Get Back!" and "Get Down!" From there we dropped the baton, ran another 15 feet to the next person with a pad, and hit them with our elbow in the same manner as the baton. We then ran another 15 feet to the third person with a pad and attacked them with our knee in the same manner as before. One of the effects of OC spray is a temporary paralysis of the larynx, which renders the voice box useless. By the time I finished attacking the third person, I was told that I wasn't yelling (I honestly thought I was yelling, but apparently I wasn't) so I had to run back and attack the three people again.
From there we were able to "wash" the OC off of our faces. The only problem is that water reactivates the spray. Even taking a shower that night reactivated the spray.
There are only three ways to describe the pain caused by OC spray. 1) Imagine bobbing for french fries in a deep fryer, 2) imagine sticking your face into the bowels of Hell, and 3) imagine having your face peeled from your head and your eyes repeatedly stabbed with needles. Once you comprehend that pain, double it and you might have an understanding of what I (along with my classmates) went through. The pain was so intense that you were forced to clench your eyes shut; unfortunately, it hurts more when you close your eyes. You cry like a baby, your nose becomes an endless supply of snot, and your skin looks as if you've been sunburned.
Friday
My eyes still hurt in the morning, and throughout the day they would randomly start watering. We took a test on the OC material. I scored 100% on the test. We then had a class on the Bill of Rights and Ethics. After lunch we had more PT. I became so dehydrated that I blacked out. Luckily, EMS was already there attending someone else who was injured during the PT.
One week down, twenty-two to go. Please pray that my classmates and myself have strength during the next five months.