Border Patrol Stories
The Unforgettable Trainee
It was around 1986 in Imperial Beach, working out of the old sheriff substation at I-5 and the border. Tony Ruiz and I were in the office, busy with pre-shift scheduling, when we heard the back door open. We were expecting a fresh group of trainees, but then....
CLACK!.....CLACKCLACKCLACK!
Were those the sounds of heel caps?
You could only imagine a Watch Commander's shock when, around the corner, came this plump humanoid figure dressed in a green uniform and mirror sunglasses. It stamped its heels together, stood to attention, threw up a palm-out English salute, and bellowed, "JOHNNY TROOPER REPORTING SIR".
"Dear God, why me?" I thought.
Sadly, Johnny did not pass his 10 month exam, but during his brief tenure, he managed to commit more foolish acts than any other six trainees I had ever encountered.
CLACK!.....CLACKCLACKCLACK!
Were those the sounds of heel caps?
You could only imagine a Watch Commander's shock when, around the corner, came this plump humanoid figure dressed in a green uniform and mirror sunglasses. It stamped its heels together, stood to attention, threw up a palm-out English salute, and bellowed, "JOHNNY TROOPER REPORTING SIR".
"Dear God, why me?" I thought.
Sadly, Johnny did not pass his 10 month exam, but during his brief tenure, he managed to commit more foolish acts than any other six trainees I had ever encountered.
The Unforgettable Trainee
DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HonorFirst.com, the U.S. Border Patrol, or any government agency. These stories are presented for historical and cultural insight and have been submitted by current or former Border Patrol employees with minimal editing for clarity.
