Bit of an update on my entrance to the PD.
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Topic: Bit of an update on my entrance to the PD.
Posted By: Reb Cpl
Subject: Bit of an update on my entrance to the PD.
Date Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:06pm
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Town board met tonight and decided to sponsor me in the police academy in a neighboring county which starts January 5. I've got the qualifying PT test on tuesday at 10am. If I make it through that, and can scare up the 2 thousand bucks for the academy, I've got to make it MWF 6-10PM and Saturdays 9-5. Until July. The sticking point is that they don't want me working until after training, which sticks me with a decision to make: Do I:
There's a 3rd option, but I'm not going to mention it until I find out if its true or not. Its a bit extreme, and doesn't sound like it'll work. So, I'm progressing here, and I'm looking forward to the rigors of the academy, but man alive do I have to start working my nuts off to shake out the rust and make the times for Tuesday. ------------- ? |
Replies:
Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:45pm
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Glad to hear you got some relatively good news. Would you still need to pay the whole 2K for the academy? Here in NC, a sponsorship basically just means your endorsed by a PD or SO, and the state waives your tuition cost. Doesn't cost the agency anything, but doesn't guarantee anything past graduation employment wise either. Maybe the city woud be willing to supply your equipment as well? I know that SOME BLETs here will allow a cadet to wear their sponsoring agencies unsworn uniform/pt clothes. I think my first day is the 7th. Small world. ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:46pm
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Sticking it out with secure employment for 6 months sucks, but it's the best option you have going if you ask me. You may lack some sleep, but it'll only make you that much more prepared for the world of law enforcement. On the upshot, you'll now be able to buy LEO-Only equipment. Like true switchblade knives and post-86 automatic weapons. ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: rednekk98
Date Posted: 29 November 2012 at 10:52pm
| Keep the job. One in the hand and all. Sleep with earplugs, delegate to wifey and assign yourself a day to sleep it off. Make no mistake, it will suck. I've done the whole sleeping in my car to balance work and school thing, and taking care of an elderly relative with alzheimer's in addition to the maybe 5 solid hours of sleep I get all summer working with kids and playing taxi to the bar crowd, so working on no sleep is something I'm not a stranger to (though thankfully I have no children known to me). Once you get back into workout mode, you will be able to conk out when it is time to with no problems, wake up and do it again. For a job you want that provides the security you want, it'll be worth it. Besides, you old farts need less sleep. |
Posted By: Reb Cpl
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 7:11am
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You know, its less the worry about sleep that I'm worried about than it is the toll on my car. I'm not in a position to buy a new one, and my current war-horse is a 2000 Taurus 6 cylinder with 190,000 miles on it, costing me nearly $30 a day just to get back and forth to work. Keeping the job would mean the possibility of 300 miles of driving, 3 days a week plus the 2 hours RT on saturdays. For six months. All that for a job that I'm not sure will support the added fuel expenses plus the wear and tear that I'd be putting Boris (used to be the wife's car. It's the only male car I've ever known) through, AND feed 4 mouths and cover monthly expenses. Virtually 1/4 of my current take home is going into the gas tank already. I'm considering putting in to substitute teach in my area at several different schools, which could guarantee 3-4 days worth of work at $80-$100 a day, which would balance out some of the fuel costs that today's job costs me. See? I've run all these numbers, and under normal circumstances, you guys are right, I'd keep the job without question. 6 months of hell would pay off in the long run. and USAF, yeah. I need to pay $2K in tuition. If the dept. didn't sponsor me, it would have been closer to $4500. That doesn't account for books, uniforms, leather, and gun later on, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm still going to go, there's just a lot of factors that need to be worked out in the meantime. ------------- ? |
Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 8:37am
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Are you eligible for a Pell grant or something similar? I know a lot of people around here use them.(Feel free to shut me up whenever, I'm just excited I know someone else who will be going the same time as me) Also, later on, if your department doesn't issue Kevlar, check out the Armor of God project. They're doing some really good work. http://www.vestforlife.com/" rel="nofollow - http://www.vestforlife.com/ ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: mbro
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 11:45am
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I'm sure some people here would be more than happy to loan you the academy money if you were to repay in installments, first in first paid. I'd loan you at least a hundo to get you on your feet again.acadamy ------------- 
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos. |
Posted By: stratoaxe
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 1:55pm
I know at least somewhat how you feel.
I made the decision to quit my job today-something I don't do lightly, but I realized at the pay I was getting I was essentially paying to go to work once my car payment was paid. I realized that I had enough left over in savings from my GI Bill living expenses that I generally keep to pay up front for my semesters to cover me for about 5 or 6 months on car payment / bills and it was more profitable for me to skip a semester to find a job that wouldn't stress me out so much.
I hate quitting a job, especially in this economy, but the wear and tear on your vehicle comes back on your pretty quick. I've changed my oil 5 times now and I've only had my car 8 months-that's aside from the inevitable clutch replacement and the need to replace the car / carry overhead for a job that clears me about 16 bucks an hour.
Not really helpful advice there, but at least it's something to relate to. ------------- 
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Reb wrote:Posted By: scotchyscotch
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 1:59pm
My dad had a red Ford Escort called Robert.
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Posted By: evillepaintball
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 3:45pm
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Keep the job to start and see how much of a toll it takes on everything. Then go from there. ------------- 
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Posted By: impulse418
Date Posted: 30 November 2012 at 4:21pm
| Sell your body? |
Posted By: *Stealth*
Date Posted: 01 December 2012 at 12:26am
I'd throw in too Reb. Just a show of support. ------------- |
Posted By: Ceesman762
Date Posted: 01 December 2012 at 9:38am
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I understand car maintenance aspect. I have had my car over a year and have had about 7 oil changes and put over 42k in miles on it. Now.the GWB tolls went up to $10 for ezpass. Dig in deep Reb. If this is what you want it will be worth the sacrifices. Just dont let it get in front of your family life. ------------- Innocence proves nothing FUAC!!!!! |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 01 December 2012 at 11:02am
Same here, I'd pitch in if you need it bud! ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: impulse418
Date Posted: 01 December 2012 at 11:29am
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Once I start working I'll pitch in. Have a paypal account reb? |
Posted By: Reb Cpl
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 11:02am
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Jesus you guys. I don't really know what to say. I can't ask for the help you're offering me as awesome and generous as it is- especially around the holidays. (That doesn't mean I might not have to  ) I've got about half of the tuition accounted for out of a 'rainy day fund' - and we're looking for places to find the rest. I may have to sell off some of my PB equipment and a rifle or two, but I think we'll make it. I could get a good chunk of it taken care of if I decide to sell the Garand and find the right buyer for it. WIfe's telling me not to do that, (keeper right?) but I'm leaning that way anyway. Tomorrow's the qualifying PT test. Haven't mentioned it to the office, I'm going to phone in a sick day. Somewhere around lunch time I'll know if I need to worry about tuition. Thanks all for the support. ------------- ? |
Posted By: deadeye007
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 1:58pm
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If it comes to selling the Garand, I'm sure someone would "hold" it for you until you paid them back instead of just selling it. ------------- Face it guys, common sense is a form of wealth and we're surrounded by poverty.-Strato |
Posted By: oldpbnoob
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 2:24pm
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I would look into student loans or something to cover the cost of tuition. I think it should qualify. Contact the school where the training will be done, they should be able to direct you in the right direction. You may even qualify for some additional aid that can cover books and some living expenses. I could be wrong, but worth a call or two. ------------- "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man and live in a condor next to the beach" -- My 7yr old daughter. |
Posted By: oldsoldier
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 2:33pm
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Look into the mirror and ask yourself, where do I want to be in 5 years and how do I get there, is my plan worth it, what are the sacrifices that need to be made for the greater good. Then sit with the wife and ask her what she is willing to endure for the goal, many times there is the disconnect. Selling off stuff is a temp fix, and you regret it later on as you usually can not reaquire what you sold. Career vs family has always been the leader in cause for divorce, not saying but a concern...been there done that. Financially is a long term small balance to cover costs 'loan' worth it, a 'pawn' system with friends could work so you do not lose items for a short term gain. There are ways to make it happen, the question is what are you willing to do, and how, just remmember momm is in this equation too. ------------- 
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Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 4:41pm
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Here's the Pell thing I was talking about. Not sure if you'd qualify or not, but a buddy of mine got a decent chunk of change for his fire academy stuff in January. https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1" rel="nofollow - https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1 ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 03 December 2012 at 10:45pm
If it comes down to that, I could probably hold it as collateral on a small loan (couple hundred or so) since I can xfer across state lines without having to get multiple 01FFLs involved. But I don't think it'd have to. Hold on to the Garand if you can. The prices only keep going up, especially once the CMP runs out. Then they'll skyrocket. ------------- <Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.> |
Posted By: Reb Cpl
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 7:42pm
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This might seem a tad boa**edited**l, but I'm a little proud, as well as confused at today's outcome. Took the qualifying PT test today. Made the situps and pushups without any problem- even managed to make the graduation mark for those two, not just the entrance requirements. The run though, had me worried. 1.5 miles, 12 minutes, 38 seconds to do it. I'm not a runner. I've done a bit of jogging lately, but nothing really intensive enough to do more than shake some rust out of the joints. I was especially disheartened when the first group of 6 made their run with their best time being over 13 minutes, and that group had a few current / recently prior service members. They started all 6 of us off in the same lane, and right out of the box I took a good clip to try to get out of the pack. Within a half a lap I was in front, and my first lap clocked at (for me) a blistering 1:46. I was sucking a bit of wind already, so I dropped the pace, got a grip on my breathing and started playing the ABC game (find the letters of the alphabet consecutively) with the sponsor boards that were scattered around the track. To my shock and awe, I began lapping people, and was making modest times on the laps, although with one to go, I'd have to do something drastic to make the time....so I did. I picked up the pace (hurt like HELL at this point) and at turn 4 I threw caution and probably safety to the wind, and sprinted as best I could, clocking out at a 12:35. Top time in the session, the ONLY person in the exam to clear all three tests minimums. When I finished, I walked a bit, then sat down, because I was shot. One of the instructors came over to me. "Keep walking around, don't sit." "Yes sir." I get up and start to walk again. "Are you okay? Are you dizzy or anything?" "I'm going to go over there for a little while." "You didn't answer my question son." "You noticed huh?" He laughed, I guess figuring that if I was keeping a sense of humor, that I wasn't going to die. I then had a Hollywood moment. Basically, we were all competing for a few slots that are left open in the academy. My being the only one to make all three tests just about promises me a slot. When I got back to the line, one of the guys, a Marine whose done a few tours overseas (and has the scars to prove it) shakes my hand, and tells me to get a haircut because "You just changed your life." Pretty cool ending to a brutal morning. It wasn't pretty or anything like that, but I'm in. Now all I need to do is conquer the mountain of paperwork for the course registration, purchase the equipment, and survive day 1, which is when they lost most of their dropouts. ------------- ? |
Posted By: RoboCop
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 8:00pm
| Good job! |
Posted By: usafpilot07
Date Posted: 04 December 2012 at 8:09pm
Congrats Reb! Check out http://hundredpushups.com/#sthash.sEZBQDox.dpbs" rel="nofollow - http://hundredpushups.com/#sthash.sEZBQDox.dpbs and twohundredsitups.com" rel="nofollow - twohundredsitups.com and brace yourself for all your running prep the next month.  Do you have any additional standards you have to be ready for in January? ------------- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo |
Posted By: evillepaintball
Date Posted: 05 December 2012 at 3:36pm
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Congrats! I remember when I passed my PT test to contract into ROTC; It's a spectacular feeling. I probably even posted a thread on it. -------------
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Posted By: brihard
Date Posted: 08 December 2012 at 1:46am
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Congrats Reb! I'm maybe just a few months behind you up on my side of the border after a two year recruiting process. Keep us in the loop on how it goes. ------------- "Abortion is not "choice" in America. It is forced and the democrats are behind it, with the goal of eugenics at its foundation." -FreeEnterprise, 21 April 2011. Yup, he actually said that. |