Episode 2: Physical fitness and mental challenges

00:00:09.38 >> Welcome to the Careers at ICE podcast,

00:00:11.43 where we highlight career opportunities at U.S.

00:00:13.69 Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the hiring process,

00:00:17.24 and how to put your best foot forward.

00:00:19.40 Our special guest today, our Enforcement and Removal Operations

00:00:22.92 Academy section chief Frank Unger, and Homeland Security

00:00:26.46 Investigations Academy national program manager Todd Rignel.

00:00:31.21 They are here to answer all of our questions

00:00:32.99 about the physical and mental challenges

00:00:35.21 of preparing for training at the Academy,

00:00:37.41 and a federal law enforcement career.

00:00:39.77 It is wonderful to have you both here.

00:00:42.34 Thank you for being here. Let us just get right to it.

00:00:45.44 Would you tell us about the mission of the HSI and ERO Academies,

00:00:49.36 and also, what is the relationship of the Academies

00:00:51.90 to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center?

00:00:55.21 >> This is Todd Rignel from HSI.

00:00:57.07 To start with the HSI Academy, it is a fairly simple mission.

00:01:00.77 We provide both basic and advanced training for special agents,

00:01:04.33 as well as other HSI employees,

00:01:06.35 and our foreign task force officers, too.

00:01:09.87 >> This is Frank Unger from the ERO Academies.

00:01:13.35 We do basically the same mission. We are here to train basic students

00:01:17.43 and advanced officers in the Deportation side of the house.

00:01:23.19 >> Both of these Academies, the HSI Academy and ERO,

00:01:26.41 are what's called FLETC partner organizations.

00:01:29.31 We are located here at the grounds of FLETC's Glynco

00:01:32.56 training delivery point; the largest site that FLETC has.

00:01:36.55 As partner organizations,

00:01:37.92 we provide detail instruction to our trainees on site,

00:01:41.69 but we also provide instructors to FLETC.

00:01:43.76 We use the facilities here, lodge and feed the trainees here.

00:01:47.63 That is kind of our tie to FLETC.

00:01:50.52 >> The ERO Basic Training program here

00:01:53.07 is an integrated training program with FLETC.

00:01:55.76 We teach both Federal Law Enforcement

00:01:57.77 Training Center lesson plans and ICE-specific lesson plans

00:02:01.60 in regards to the deportation officers here at the Academy.

00:02:05.30 >> A little bit different on the HSI side --

00:02:08.16 our Academy is standalone,

00:02:10.52 but our trainees first go through a FLETC Academy;

00:02:12.78 the Criminal Investigator Training Program, referred to as CITP.

00:02:17.05 It's a wholly FLETC-owned and managed course

00:02:19.93 that essentially all special agents in the AT-11 job series

00:02:23.82 complete the CITP course here at FLETC Glynco,

00:02:26.92 with the exception of the FBI, DEA, maybe a few others.

00:02:30.58 So the HSI Academy relies on FLETC

00:02:32.86 to provide this 56-day program to our trainees.

00:02:36.13 In turn we provide some detailed instructors

00:02:38.10 to assist with the instruction.

00:02:39.84 We help with some reviews of the program,

00:02:41.74 but that program is fully run by FLETC.

00:02:44.68 After that is done, our special agent trainees

00:02:46.95 complete the HSI Special Agent training program,

00:02:50.27 which runs for 71 days here at FLETC. But it's while we're on the FLETC site

00:02:54.95 and use their facilities that that program is managed

00:02:57.29 and taught by HSI personnel, here at FLETC.

00:03:01.43 >> At the Academy, you train both newly-hired ICE employees

00:03:04.89 and long-term ICE employees. So let's focus on the required training

00:03:08.66 for newly-hired ICRO deportation officers,

00:03:11.51 and HSI special agents.

00:03:13.77 First -- and let's start with ERO on this --

00:03:16.54 would you please share with us why excellent physical fitness

00:03:20.11 is critical for professional law enforcement personnel?

00:03:24.31 >> Well, I think overall,

00:03:25.60 physical fitness is important for everybody;

00:03:28.41 more specifically for a law enforcement officer

00:03:30.72 or federal law enforcement officer.

00:03:33.64 >> To add, some of our instructors tell the trainees

00:03:36.48 on the special agent side that when you join law enforcement,

00:03:40.29 you give up your right to be out of shape.

00:03:42.00 It's not really all about you being in shape for yourself,

00:03:44.75 but also for your partners, the safety of the public.

00:03:47.37 So it's something much bigger than you to stay in shape.

00:03:49.77 It's not like a member of the general public,

00:03:51.77 where it's, hey, I just want to stay in shape for me.

00:03:54.06 There's something much bigger here.

00:03:56.02 >> That makes total sense. Todd, finishing that, Todd from HSI,

00:04:00.20 ideally, what level of fitness should the new employees already have

00:04:03.70 when arriving at the Academy for training?

00:04:06.59 >> Well, for HSI, we have the physical fitness test

00:04:10.12 that we require the employees,

00:04:13.09 the new special agent trainees to pass when they arrive here.

00:04:15.88 And soon, if not already, they will be passing it

00:04:18.47 before they even come to the Academy. So that's kind of like the benchmark.

00:04:22.12 But we encourage people to certainly rise above that.

00:04:25.62 It's a busy Academy, we like people to show up ready to train.

00:04:29.50 We aren't really in the business here of getting people in shape from scratch.

00:04:32.32 We expect people to show up in shape.

00:04:34.39 >> They need to shop up ready to go, hit the ground running.

00:04:38.31 Both the Academies here have their own physical fitness test,

00:04:41.49 and we expect a certain baseline of performance

00:04:44.62 from the students when they arrive, that they can show

00:04:47.36 that they are physically capable of enduring and completing the training.

00:04:50.96 Because as he has said, it's a bit of a stressful time period

00:04:57.08 for the students both mentally and physically while they are here.

00:05:01.58 Overall, a more fit student that leaves here gives the field

00:05:07.59 and the offices a fitter or better officer for the future.

00:05:13.22 >> So what are the specific physical fitness

00:05:15.60 training criteria at the Academy for all newly-hired ICE employees?

00:05:20.13 I'm specifically wondering about, like,

00:05:21.86 are there any differences between ERO and HSI personnel?

00:05:25.27 Are there separate requirements for FLETC specifically?

00:05:29.17 >> Yes, specifically there are two different tests;

00:05:31.49 one for ERO and one for HSI. They are different.

00:05:34.59 For the ERO officers, when they decide that they want to become an officer,

00:05:38.97 they put in for their positions, they are selected.

00:05:43.17 They are given a tentative selection letter.

00:05:45.41 They are given a pre-fitness test in the field.

00:05:48.01 It's a stand and kneel test, and it's a pushup test,

00:05:51.78 and a five-minute step test on a 16-inch riser.

00:05:57.25 If they pass that, they're cleared to come to the Academy.

00:06:01.30 Within the first three days on arrival at the Academy,

00:06:04.51 they have to do the PAA for the ERO officers,

00:06:07.79 which is the physical abilities assessment.

00:06:10.85 It's a small obstacle course.

00:06:13.13 There are eight total events in it, or obstacles in the test.

00:06:18.75 The trainee or student is started out seated in a vehicle

00:06:22.42 with the seatbelt on, hands on the steering wheel.

00:06:25.69 The instructor will ask them if they are ready.

00:06:29.09 He'll say, "Go!" They exit the vehicle,

00:06:31.52 the first obstacle that they have to surmount is a six-foot wall.

00:06:36.64 It is 18 inches up. We give them a little step.

00:06:39.89 We do show them the preferred method for getting over the wall;

00:06:43.32 however, their goal at this point is just to get over the six-foot wall.

00:06:47.82 Once they have gotten over the wall, the next obstacle is a culvert.

00:06:51.87 It's a round, concrete sewer pipe; it is 36 inches wide, 8 feet long.

00:06:58.47 They must crawl through that.

00:07:00.91 The next obstacle past that would be a metal-framed window.

00:07:05.07 They are required to step through the window.

00:07:09.34 The next obstacle after that would be the set of stairs;

00:07:12.01 they have two sets of stairs.

00:07:13.40 They have to go up one side and down the other.

00:07:16.90 All this is done for a very specific time period.

00:07:19.60 They have two minutes to complete the course.

00:07:22.61 After they complete the stairs, they go through another culvert.

00:07:27.03 The other side of the culvert is a 170 pound mannequin laying on the ground.

00:07:32.34 They have to grab the mannequin by the arm

00:07:35.05 and roll it over into the prone position.

00:07:38.26 This simulates using a bad guy that you need to roll over

00:07:42.12 from their back to their stomach for handcuffing.

00:07:45.21 The student is required just to roll this dummy over.

00:07:49.11 Then as soon as they finish that,

00:07:51.11 they are presented with another 170 pound mannequin.

00:07:55.15 This is their partner, it's an officer down drill,

00:07:58.41 where they have to lift the dummy up and move him backwards 50 feet.

00:08:06.05 Once they have completed the 50 feet, they set the dummy down,

00:08:09.64 they have to go back over the wall

00:08:11.95 and touch a cone in the front of the vehicle.

00:08:15.51 Every obstacle is 20 feet apart,

00:08:17.53 and they have two minutes to do all of these vents.

00:08:21.54 Then after that, they change out into their running gear,

00:08:24.91 and we take them out to the track,

00:08:27.61 and then they have to do a mile and a half run.

00:08:30.92 Their initial time when they arrive at the Academy is 16:30,

00:08:34.71 their graduation time for the mile and a half would be 14:30.

00:08:39.28 >> On the HSI standards, our standards are a bit different

00:08:41.94 than the ERO standards.

00:08:44.72 Just to be straight with the standards, 32 sit-ups in a minute or less,

00:08:48.85 a 220 yard sprint in 47.73 seconds or less, 22 pushups in a minute or less,

00:08:57.21 and a mile and a half run in 14:25 or less.

00:09:01.84 Those standards are on the ice-gov.com career website,

00:09:05.97 so that they're well published out there.

00:09:08.51 Our special agent trainees will be taking that and passing

00:09:11.18 that before they arrive to training. That's being implemented as we speak.

00:09:15.69 In training, once they arrive, they'll take that test three times;

00:09:20.05 the beginning, within a few days of arriving,

00:09:22.46 mid-term about halfway through training,

00:09:24.25 where they transition from the CITP over to HSI SAT,

00:09:28.82 and then at the end of training.

00:09:30.10 They're expected to pass it each time as they go through there.

00:09:34.00 There's no sliding scale, there's no differences

00:09:37.62 among where they're at in training, or differences among age or gender.

00:09:41.09 That's the standards.

00:09:43.10 Additionally, FLETC has their own requirements,

00:09:46.95 although trainees aren't held to them in the same sense.

00:09:49.44 They call it the Physical Efficiency Battery, or the PEB.

00:09:53.78 They put that on the CITP,

00:09:56.10 so our special agent trainees will complete that.

00:09:58.71 It's a shuttle run, a mile and a half run, bench press,

00:10:02.30 sit and reach and body fat composition.

00:10:04.63 It's graded on an average percentile across the different areas.

00:10:08.10 There's no passing score, everyone must take it

00:10:10.90 and try their best at the end of CITP.

00:10:13.72 They take it once again, they take the PEB a second time.

00:10:17.07 And the FLETC staff expects to see some improvement.

00:10:20.01 So that's the physical efficiency that FLETC runs,

00:10:22.66 and there's more information on that specific standard on the FLETC website;

00:10:27.05 fletc.gov.

00:10:28.85 >> Are there any common physical challenges

00:10:31.43 that you see potential candidates struggling with at the Academy?

00:10:34.97 >> Yeah, the PFT, as I think Frank and I kind of noted,

00:10:37.46 our PFT and the ERO physical training. It's kind of a bare minimum standard.

00:10:41.99 One challenge we've seen is some trainees show up

00:10:45.69 and they may be at or near that standard.

00:10:48.56 Our trainers ask everybody to be 10 to 20 percent above that.

00:10:52.97 For example, around here, I run every day 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning --

00:10:57.13 it's very humid here, even in the morning;

00:10:58.69 you could be taking the PFT 5:00 or 6:00 or maybe 7:00 in the morning.

00:11:03.17 But at this time of year in August, where it is right now,

00:11:06.64 it's in the mid to upper 70s,

00:11:08.07 the heat index would be well into the 80s.

00:11:10.27 If you've come from the West Coast, you've got a three-hour time change,

00:11:13.04 you're not used to that heat and humidity.

00:11:15.59 It can really affect you.

00:11:16.89 So a challenge I've seen is those that say,

00:11:19.99 okay, I can meet these standards, I'm kind of right on the cusp.

00:11:23.78 But you want to make yourself, I'd say, as far above that as you can be,

00:11:27.68 and we say 10 to 20 percent.

00:11:29.21 But make sure that even if you are not feeling great that day,

00:11:31.84 or if you're dealing with these environmental issues,

00:11:34.37 that you can still perform and make sure you can complete it

00:11:37.08 in the time that you need to.

00:11:38.57 >> Yeah, I've been involved in the physical training division

00:11:41.37 and department here for ICE since 1998 --

00:11:44.86 I've been here for 20 years. Just a generalized observation of mine

00:11:49.21 is that over the 20 years that I have been here,

00:11:52.18 I have seen a decline in upper body strength

00:11:55.86 and cardio vascular endurance in the students

00:11:58.62 that we are seeing come in through the doors nowadays.

00:12:02.31 Our students are older now;

00:12:03.99 we're getting a lot of military veterans and things like that.

00:12:08.43 But I think that society itself has changed in the last 20 years.

00:12:11.82 I think there's more people sitting on the couch playing games

00:12:14.88 than that are out and being physically active.

00:12:17.34 We see a direct correlation to that here, as far as doing pushups

00:12:21.13 and a lot of the physical training here;

00:12:24.21 there's a definite decline in upper body strength and cardiovascular endurance.

00:12:29.21 >> Of course you provide other types of training besides physical fitness.

00:12:32.66 What other training do new employees receive?

00:12:35.58 >> As I noted, when we started, the special agent trainees

00:12:38.16 first complete the Criminal Investigator Training Program,

00:12:40.63 or our CITP, in that program, FLETC instructors,

00:12:44.54 and instructors from different agencies

00:12:46.01 including HSI, they're a detail to FLETC.

00:12:48.58 Instruct special agent trainees on topics such as criminal law,

00:12:51.58 enforcement operations, courtroom testimony,

00:12:54.66 basic firearms and tactics, and other interdisciplinary approaches

00:12:59.01 to becoming an effective criminal investigator in today's environment.

00:13:03.81 They also participate as a member of a small taskforce

00:13:06.29 and complete a continuing case investigation.

00:13:08.78 And CITP, it starts on the very first day

00:13:11.32 and ends on the very last day of CITP,

00:13:13.56 an actual continuing case mock investigation that they complete.

00:13:17.94 When they graduate from CITP, they come over to HSI SAT

00:13:21.49 usually the very next day,

00:13:23.10 and we build on that general criminal investigator knowledge

00:13:26.18 that FLETC teaches in CITP, while focusing on the knowledge, skills

00:13:30.11 and the abilities that HSI special agents

00:13:32.38 need in their first 12 to 18 months on the job on the Southern border.

00:13:35.96 Most of our new special agents are assigned to the Southern border,

00:13:38.22 so we focus on that geographic area.

00:13:41.01 We also focus on our diverse portfolio and programmatic areas

00:13:43.92 that we investigate, which is vast.

00:13:46.45 But much of the training is even rooted in our unique

00:13:48.74 Immigration and Customs authorities.

00:13:51.16 Like CITP, we have a lot of practical exercises.

00:13:53.51 We try and replicate real investigations and tactical situations as best we can.

00:13:58.11 But we have a lot of knowledge that we try to cram

00:14:01.47 into everybody in that short 72 days, because we have a huge swath

00:14:05.53 of investigative portfolios that HSI covers.

00:14:08.70 So we try to do our best to get that in there.

00:14:10.92 But physical fitness is only part of that training.

00:14:14.37 There's much more to it.

00:14:16.21 >> Our program is different, obviously, than the investigative program.

00:14:19.46 We're here to train deportation officers,

00:14:21.45 our missions are different in a lot of aspects.

00:14:25.06 The deportation officer program here is a 13-week integrated program

00:14:30.32 with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

00:14:32.83 While they're here, they're going to get a tremendous amount of training and law.

00:14:37.73 It's Fourth Amendment, it's constitutional law,

00:14:40.81 it's immigration law and removal law.

00:14:43.97 Along with that, there's going to be many practical exercises.

00:14:47.63 We have gotten away from a lot of the classroom stuff,

00:14:50.37 and we're trying to do more practical exercises and labs

00:14:53.88 where they're applying the knowledge that they get in the classroom

00:14:57.82 into the everyday aspects of a deportation officer,

00:15:01.09 such as reviewing case files,

00:15:03.23 running record checks, finding the individuals.

00:15:06.84 We use role players as the suspects.

00:15:09.97 They have to interview them and process them,

00:15:13.28 arrest them, transport them, and various exercises like that.

00:15:18.84 They'll receive a lot of firearms training.

00:15:22.74 They get the regular pistol training,

00:15:25.52 but they get some M4 and shotgun training.

00:15:28.29 They'll get a lot of their basic police procedures

00:15:30.64 from the physical training division,

00:15:32.62 such as, some of these people have never carried a gun before,

00:15:36.95 they don't know how to arrest people, so they're giving all that training.

00:15:40.18 How to search somebody, how to handcuff them to include defensive tactics

00:15:47.53 if the suspect gets out of control,

00:15:49.42 how that they're going to be able to defend themselves

00:15:51.21 and control an individual.

00:15:54.70 So we try and concentrate on a lot of different things while they're here.

00:15:58.23 Once they've completed the basic program here,

00:16:00.22 they have a five week follow-on in Spanish,

00:16:02.98 where they are immersed in the Spanish language,

00:16:06.61 and they're required to pass that before they get their final graduation.

00:16:11.33 >> Can you recall any successful or not so successful stories

00:16:14.34 about new employees in training

00:16:15.87 that may help those considering federal law enforcement as a career?

00:16:20.31 >> On a more, I guess, broader level,

00:16:23.14 it seems like everybody that comes here for training,

00:16:24.90 all the trainees have some type of stress at the Academy,

00:16:28.12 maybe training-based, academics, firearms or tactics,

00:16:30.90 but there's a lot of external stress.

00:16:32.60 People many times are moving across the country,

00:16:35.07 maybe buying, selling houses,

00:16:36.59 dealing with family issues that are tied in with moving,

00:16:39.62 or just generally from being away from family.

00:16:42.13 So some stressful situations here sometimes.

00:16:44.93 Just on a general of success that we've seen with special agent trainees,

00:16:48.56 and I don't think this is specific to HSI special agents,

00:16:51.66 it's probably across the board for ERO and other programs here at FLETC.

00:16:55.20 You know, those that are successful, they manage that stress appropriately.

00:16:58.69 They maintain a positive attitude. They show up every day ready to train.

00:17:02.81 They get along well with classmates, and if they need to talk about stressors

00:17:06.60 they talk with their classmates, or others.

00:17:08.97 They don't over-indulge in alcohol. As Frank and I have already noted,

00:17:11.80 staying physically active is a big part of it.

00:17:14.55 They can get away from here on the weekends, travel.

00:17:16.53 It's a great jumping off point to a lot of places to check out in the country,

00:17:20.26 you know, if you're going to be stationed

00:17:21.86 not in the Southeast you may not otherwise get to see.

00:17:25.60 Just kind of on a more of a macro level, I see a lot of success in those

00:17:29.37 that can really manage the stressors of training internally and externally

00:17:33.85 while maintaining that really good attitude,

00:17:36.45 that desire to train, desire to learn, desire to share knowledge.

00:17:40.62 That's what the instructors here want to see.

00:17:43.00 When those people get back to their field offices,

00:17:45.05 I think that's what their co-workers and their supervisors also want to see,

00:17:48.30 you know, motivation,

00:17:49.58 the ability to deal with stress appropriately, a good attitude.

00:17:53.36 >> Could you both give groups some advice

00:17:55.39 on how to prepare once a candidate gets their date to go to training,

00:17:59.69 and once they are there?

00:18:01.01 >> Sure. Again, it's not rocket science.

00:18:04.46 I think everybody knows what they need to do.

00:18:07.57 If your diet is not proper, then you need to change your diet.

00:18:10.36 You need to start eating better.

00:18:11.82 You need to start working on your cardiovascular endurance.

00:18:14.69 What you've got to do is, you've got to get out and run.

00:18:17.41 As much as people hate to do it, you've got to do it.

00:18:21.14 Upper body strength -- you know, pullups, pushups.

00:18:24.11 All that stuff that they did in grade school many, many years ago,

00:18:27.21 is the basics that they're going to start out with when they get here.

00:18:30.66 So why not prepare yourself to arrive here in better shape.

00:18:35.90 >> You know, to add on what Frank said,

00:18:38.60 for our tests, it's running, pushups and sit-ups --

00:18:40.78 these are all very simple tasks; they don't require equipment.

00:18:43.83 I would recommend getting a good pair of running shoes as an aside,

00:18:46.65 but outside of that, you know, you want to improve your running?

00:18:48.75 You go running. You want to improve your pushups? You do pushups.

00:18:51.16 You want to improve sit-ups? You do sit-ups.

00:18:53.06 I think it's great he mentioned the diet aspect as well,

00:18:55.17 because that certainly comes into play.

00:18:57.57 It's a fairly easy way to prepare. The sooner a candidate starts preparing,

00:19:01.11 even -- you know, don't wait until you have an Academy date.

00:19:03.41 Sometimes those come quick. I had an Academy date,

00:19:06.01 left within a week when I went to training in the past.

00:19:09.33 As soon as someone is interested in this job,

00:19:11.69 or really any law enforcement job,

00:19:14.03 you're going to see a lot of commonalities

00:19:15.81 across the physical standards in law enforcement,

00:19:18.09 and get out and start doing those things if you aren't already.

00:19:21.58 Additionally, within the HSI program,

00:19:24.61 as well as I'm sure many other programs here,

00:19:26.95 our candidates should be prepared to do a lot of writing,

00:19:29.49 working in investigations and kind of do analytical thinking.

00:19:32.59 A really essential aspect to the special agent job

00:19:34.86 is being able to articulate facts,

00:19:36.24 observations in a clear and concise manner,

00:19:38.90 if we do a lot of reports and affidavit writing.

00:19:41.75 So we push a lot of practice in training,

00:19:44.44 using the physical aspects, but also the mental aspects.

00:19:47.65 So everybody should really be prepared to show up

00:19:50.25 and be able to perform physically at a high standard,

00:19:52.82 but also be able to do that on a mental basis,

00:19:55.39 because that's really a key aspect to this job as well.

00:19:58.57 >> Is there anything else that potential ICE employees

00:20:00.63 should know about the Academy?

00:20:02.91 >> Well, I would say that, again,

00:20:04.56 Todd covered a lot of that in his last answer, and everything.

00:20:06.81 But the students need to be prepared both mentally

00:20:09.21 and physically when they arrive here,

00:20:10.91 because they are going to be pushed to the limit on both of those.

00:20:14.19 They may have two tests in one day;

00:20:16.59 they may have a physical fitness test first thing in the morning,

00:20:19.30 then they may have to qualify with their firearm.

00:20:22.39 They're going to be pushed to the limits here,

00:20:24.22 they have to be mentally prepared

00:20:25.74 just as well as you need to be physically prepared for the Academy.

00:20:30.39 >> I think that the trainees, they're coming to a good place,

00:20:33.27 if they do get hired and attend either the HSI Academy,

00:20:37.43 or they're going through the integrated Academy the ERO has.

00:20:40.14 They both are accredited with the Federal Law Enforcement

00:20:42.53 Training Accreditation body.

00:20:44.60 FLETC Glynco, where we are here, it's probably the top law enforcement

00:20:47.69 training facility in the world, definitely in the country.

00:20:51.31 Both ERO and HSI have a really excellent,

00:20:53.46 experienced, motivated cadre of instructors.

00:20:56.92 So we really offer some of the best law enforcement

00:20:58.69 training in the federal government, so I think everybody should know that.

00:21:02.05 They do come here to training,

00:21:04.16 these training programs are pushed to teach

00:21:06.48 what they need to know to get them out there to do the job.

00:21:09.16 We don't have a lot of fluff, we don't have a lot of extra time.

00:21:11.65 That's why we do physical fitness training after hours.

00:21:14.37 There are long days, or busy days,

00:21:16.10 but we go out of our way to make sure trainees leave

00:21:19.22 and are prepared mentally, physically and tactically as physically possible.

00:21:24.86 >> I would just like to add also that the staff here,

00:21:27.21 both the HSI and the ERO Academy have a vested interest

00:21:31.54 in putting out the best product that leaves the Academy.

00:21:36.61 We have a tremendous rapport between the two Academies,

00:21:40.96 and we're willing to help out the students to whatever they need.

00:21:43.58 We run after hours remedial training,

00:21:45.63 we're willing to meet students early in the morning if they need to.

00:21:50.77 We'll do whatever we need to,

00:21:52.01 to help the student be successful while they're here.

00:21:55.43 >> Yeah. Ultimately, most of us on staff here

00:21:57.53 will eventually return to the field as well,

00:21:59.20 and be working with or supervising those students

00:22:04.25 that become special agents or deportation officers.

00:22:06.46 So it's an investment not just in the Academy,

00:22:09.06 but who we'll be working with within the field.

00:22:11.92 >> Well, thank you so much for being with us today.

00:22:14.48 Todd Rignel from HSI and Frank Unger from ERO,

00:22:18.55 I sincerely appreciate your insight into what it takes to be successful

00:22:24.32 either through the ERO program or the HSI program, at FLETC.

00:22:29.06 Thank you both.

00:22:30.28 >> Thank you. >> Thank you.

00:22:31.71 >> To our listeners: Please go to ice-gov.com/careers

00:22:35.18 to find detailed information about ICE career tracks.

00:22:38.48 A list of upcoming recruiting events, to sign up for email,

00:22:42.12 career update notifications, specific job descriptions

00:22:45.98 and a list of frequently asked questions.

00:22:48.64 Please join us next time on Careers at ICE to learn more about the agency

00:22:52.98 and how to start your career in law enforcement.