From the Federal Bureau of Investigation to Customs and Border Protection, law enforcement professionals serving federal agencies must be able to fulfill their responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism and proficiency. It was with this in mind that the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) was established in 1970. Before that time, the quality of training varied greatly among federal agencies and standardized training was a largely unexplored notion.
The creation of the FLETC resulted in consistent, high-quality training programs with state-of-the-art facilities and only the most qualified instructors from the various federal agencies. The FLETC now provides consolidated, interagency training that allows law enforcement officers from all agencies and levels to realize emerging trends, adapt to new requirements, and achieve the highest level of proficiency. The FLETC is now the largest of its kind in the United States, graduating more than 50,000 students annually.
Regardless of the agency or bureau, federal law enforcement personnel must complete an initial course of training, as well as training throughout their careers. Both basic and advanced training programs are designed to prepare law enforcement personnel with the skills, aptitudes, and competencies required to expertly serve our nation, whether in a police, security, or investigative capacity. Although training requirements vary according to the federal agency, all federal law enforcement personnel must complete a formal course of training.
The FLETC currently provides both basic and advanced training to 91 partner organizations (64 executive branch organizations, 3 legislative branch organizations, 2 judicial branch organizations, and 22 other agencies).
FLETC Training Centers for Federal Law Enforcement Personnel
The FLETC has a number of training centers throughout the country, including:
- FLETC Glynco
- FLETC Artesia
- FLETC Charleston
- FLETC Cheltenham
The FLETC headquarters, which is located in Glynco, Georgia, is a 1,600-acre facility with 18 gun ranges, driver training ranges, an explosives range, and even a fully functional mock port of entry.
The FLETC has two other residential training sites in Artesia, New Mexico and in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Artesia training site is home to a number of specialized training programs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Transportation Security Administration, among others. There are also a number of specialized training programs for instructors in Artesia.
The Charleston training center specializes in maritime law enforcement and port security training. As such, this FLETC training center is home to both basic and advanced training programs for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement Training Academy.
A Cheltenham, Maryland, FLETC site is designed for use by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies located within the Washington D.C. area. Training programs include such topics as firearms and driver operations training.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Programs
The FLETC offers both basic and advanced training programs. Some of its basic programs include:
- Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
- Customs and Border Protection Officer Basic Training (CBPOBT)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Integrated (ICED)
- Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
- Rural Police Officer Training Program (RPOTP)
- Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Some of the FLETC’s advanced programs include:
- Active Shooter Threat Training Program (ASTTP)
- Advanced Forensics Techniques in Crime Scene Investigations
- Advanced Instruction of Marksmanship Training Program
- Arrest Techniques/Defensive Tactics
The FLETC accredits programs for a number of federal agencies, such as:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Explosives Detection Canine Handler Course
- Industry Operations Investigator Basic Training Program
- Special Agent Basic Training Program
- Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy
- Basic Boarding Office Course
- Maritime Law Enforcement Facilitator Course
- Ports, Waterway, and Coastal Security Course
- Boarding Officer Practical Course
- Boarding Team Member Course
- Customs and Border Protection
- Customs and Border Protection Officer Basic Training
- Basic Entry Specialist Training Program
- Enforcement Officer Training Program
- Agricultural Specialist Program
- Air and Marine Basic Training Program
- Defense Criminal Investigative Service
- Special Agent Basic Training Program
- Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Office of Training and Performance Standards
- Basic Special Agent Course
- Instructor Development Course
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- New Agents Training Program
- Instructor Development Course
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Instructor Development Course
- Field Operations Training Program
- Internal Revenue Service, National Investigator Training Academy
- Basic Instructor/Facilitator Training Program
- Special Agent Basic Training Program
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Basic Deputy U.S. Marshal Program
- Detention Enforcement/Aviation Enforcement Officer Program
- National Park Service
- Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service Training Academy
- Protective Service Operations Training Program
- Special Agent Basic Training Program
- Basic Physical Security Training Program
- Postal Inspection Service
- Basic Inspector Training
- Postal Inspection Service Facilitator Training Program
- Postal Police Officer Basic Training
- Secret Service, James J. Rowley Training Center
- ERT Tactical Canine Courses
- Firearms Instructor Training Course
- Basic Investigation of Computer and Electronic Crimes Program
- Uniformed Division Training Course
- Special Agent Training Course
- Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service Training Center
- Federal Air Marshal Service Training Program
- Defense Measures Instructor Training Program
- Firearms Instructor Training Program
- Instructor Development Course
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
- Criminal Investigator Training Program
- Law Enforcement Driver Instructor Training Program
- Inland Board Operators Training Program
- Law Enforcement Control Tactics Instructor Training Program
- Land Management Police Training Program
- Marine Law Enforcement Training Program
- Law Enforcement Fitness Coordinator Training Program
- Uniformed Police Training Program
Accredited law enforcement academies that either operate at one of the FLETC sites or coordinate and conduct their advanced and agency-specific programs with the FLETC include:
- Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy
- Customs and Border Protection Field Operations Academy
- Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Training
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy
- Internal Revenue Service, National Criminal Investigation Training Academy
- Secret Service, James J. Rowley Training Center
- Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service Training Center