Report at least 15 minutes early for duty every day (this means seated in the muster room or FTU classroom/office ready to roll, not parking your POV or just walking into the building).
Press your uniform and shine your boots impeccably, on a daily basis, no matter how dirty or scuffed they become during the previous shift. This may seem futile as dirty as a PA’s boots often become every day, but it demonstrates pride and self-discipline. First impressions…
Check and double-check your post-academy and FTU materials and equipment daily to be sure that you have ALL of the required items for your next shift. Have it ready well prior to your shift if, Heaven forbid, that alarm clock does not go off and you find yourself in a rush.
When the FTOs, or any senior agent or supervisory agent, request a volunteer for anything, put up your paw and pipe up.
Know your law and your Spanish, and make it your business to learn your area of responsibility (AOR), SOPs, 10 Code, chain of command, etc - you can, and will, be quizzed at any time. Don’t be THAT GUY.
Be an adaptive, resourceful agent - practice your investigative skills and try to track down some answers on your own, show initiative, don’t just be THAT GUY who is always asking questions and waiting for every answer to be spoon fed to him/her.
Be a leader, don’t wait for someone else to step up to the plate (especially those with age and prior military/LE experience, more will be expected of you out of the gate).
Empty your cup - you may THINK that you know a lot, but you have a lot to learn(this is especially difficult for us older, prior LE folk to accept, but necessary to become a 10-8 PA). Remember that although you should be justly proud of graduating the academy, you have only scratched the surface of the knowledge and training that you will acquire during your career. Keep an open mind.
DON’T WHINE OR COMPLAIN - the only thing that you will accomplish by doing so is to piss off your FTOs, supes, and journeymen agents. You may even alienate yourself from your support network of fellow “nuggets” by ticking off those who suck it up and do what they have to do to get through the trainee/intern period. When you complete FTU and get on your patrol group, don't request to change assignments just to get something that you think is a better or more worthwhile assignment - you have something new to learn with every assignment. We are all human and despise certain tasks, but don’t let everyone around you know how bad you hate whatever it is your assignment is that day. Instead, make the most of it and learn how you can do that assignment better. Remember that you are a new guy(or gal) and that every agent must do their time working a majority of the less desirable assignments. Eventually, you will have your day and someone else will be the “nugget”.
Don't make excuses and don't grovel - just learn from your mistakes and do the job better next time around.
If you do make a mistake or an error in judgment, simply man up, own it, be honest about it, suck it up and drive on. You don't have to broadcast your blunder to the entire station(believe me, others will handle that for you), but don't cover it up when questioned or called on it. As an agent, your integrity is one of your most important assets. Lose your credibility and you will certainly face a long, difficult road as an agent.
Develop your “survival mindset” now - even as an FTU trainee under the tutelage of FTOs, you are about to enter a career where personal danger is inherent - always be thinking “What if…???”, practice being alert to your surroundings and always think “I WILL SURVIVE” if engaged in a lethal force encounter.
