Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Training is conducted at a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) facility at Artesia, NM, approximately four hours from Lubbock, TX and Albuquerque, NM, and one hour from Roswell, NM.
- You will receive a package when a class date is assigned with most of the info you need. A list of what to bring is below. DO NOT BRING A FIREARM TO FFDO TRAINING. You will be issued a weapon during class. It will make it easier to be in good physical shape, and will make the training more enjoyable, but is not absolutely necessary.
- Plan on arriving in Artesia in time to check in at FLETC between 1200 and 2200 on Sunday. You will not be permitted to arrive at FLETC earlier than 1200, (at least, that is how the instructions will read, but would only apply to those who drive). Detailed information on where to go is included in your packet.
- You will not need a rental car. There is a transportation office that will coordinate pick-up and drop off at ABQ and ELP (approx. 4 hour ride) and ROW (Roswell) less than a 1-hour ride. You will complete your check-in paperwork on the ride to Artesia in their “modern air conditioned buses”. FLETC transportation will meet any flight at Roswell and will provide buses departing Albuquerque and El Paso at 1400 on Sunday.
- Everyone will stay in dormitory style facilities at the center (bring earplugs). Lodging will be provided at the Center at a cost of approximately $15/day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available at the FLETC cafeteria--you will be billed $15/day for all meals or you may pay cash for each meal. You may want a few meal bars for odd hours.
- Everything is close to the dorms; a laundry room, cafeteria, a convenience store, post office, and workout facility. There is a recreation area, TV, pool table, Internet cafe type place and study room, although there is no time to use any of it. The laundry facility next to the dorm is free; you only pay for detergent, but normally there is always an oversupply left in a bin for anyone's use.
- Clothing requirements are minimal. FLETC issues 6 pairs of BDU's along with T-shirts; etc.- you don't have to purchase anything. TSA no longer asks your clothing size before you arrive. During registration, you will get a requisition form with your sizes listed. You turn that in, and they will have it ready for you Monday morning when you pick up uniforms. You can try on gear and switch it immediately if needed, or anytime during training.
All you need in terms of clothing is lots of underwear and socks, and something to wear on the way to and from home. Non-marking tennis shoes are needed for the mat room. Boots are NOT required for the shooting ranges, but may be helpful. A light jacket or vest comes in handy on cold desert mornings.
In the winter time, absolutely bring long underwear and an outer jacket and winter hat, and check the forecast before you leave. We’re not kidding! The desert can easily be 30 degrees (F) and windy on winter mornings, with wind chills around 25°, so dress as if you’re going skiing!
Definitely bring sunscreen and rain gear. Those are listed in the package they send you after being accepted. And bring sports crème, Tylenol and first aid salve. They’re serious about tactical training! You may also wish to bring saddle soap, to soften the holster, if you’re so inclined. Also, bring a small back pack to move basic supplies to and from the range each day. FLETC provides loaner eye protection, but NO LONGER a Camelback drinking pack (lots of water was needed shooting outdoors in the afternoon). Gatorade and water are available on the range, but you’ll need a bottle to drink them from.
- Days run from 0720 to approximately 1830-50. On occasion you will get in just before the cafeteria closes at 1900. All food should be available and they will patiently wait for you to finish eating. Any free time you have will be very limited and in the evenings after training. If you’ve heard there is free time Wednesday morning, that is no longer true, so arrive and remain organized.
- The training and the instructors are excellent and failure rates are not a problem. FFDO instructors are not average federal law enforcement instructors. They are hand-picked for their exceptional backgrounds in a variety of disciplines and jobs. They won’t tell you about it, but you should know you’re being taught by the men who have done enough in their lives to make your hair stand up. All of the instructors are very supportive of the program and want you to have the best instruction they can give you.
Pay attention and be professional. Depending on the size of the class, you will be split into groups and move around with that group all week. Training is done in the classroom, the “mat room” and on the range. The training in the mat room can be very physical, so if you are in really poor shape you may want to reconsider. You will end up bruised and probably have a minor scratch or two but the training is invaluable and in some cases actually enjoyable. There is a health questionaire to fill out on the first day. No healthcare folks will check on you during the week. You are expected to report injuries immediately. REMEMBER YOU HAVE A DAY JOB AND TRAIN TO BE COMPETENT – RISKING INJURY TO BE A DELTA FORCE OPERATOR IS FOOLISH!
Being STRICTLY on time is considered part of the discipline of training. Be one minute late at any time for anything – and you’ll be on the bus home just like that!
- If you have never fired a gun before don’t run out to the local range and dump 200 rounds into a target. The instruction assumes you have no knowledge of weapons, so unless you’re taking lessons from a qualified instructor don’t start any bad habits. The qualifying course is not overly difficult but everything is timed and if you are experienced or take lessons the practice should include timed firing, tactical and emergency reloads and weapon clearing procedures. Corrective lens wearers were given side shields and wore their own glasses. Some people have brought electronic muffs and wore those to good effect. Double ear protection required and provided. The supplemental training offered by APSA partners is just that – supplemental. You shouldn’t need any primers to successfully complete FFDO training. The supplemental device we most recommend is the BeamHit system.
- Finally, there is a multiple choice written test on the last day. It’s not brain surgery but you will need to have paid attention during the week.
- You will need to contact a Chief Pilot near the end of training, so be prepared with a name and phone number or check to see if your airline has a specific point of contact for this training.
- Expenses for the week at FLETC should be around $160.00.
- Graduation will typically finish at about 1500 plus or minus 30 minutes. Drivers should be able to get on the road by 1530. Buses leave for ELP and ABQ early Sunday morning (0500), so you should not schedule return flights until after 1000 on Sunday morning from these airports. Have a backup plan for getting home; you will be competing for jump seats with approx. 40 to 50 other pilots. The buses have video screens and TSA instructors may bring “in-flight" movies for the trip. Many folks drive from Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico and are willing to take extra riders for the trip home. It is all right to fly personal aircraft to Artesia. Just contact them on arrival and you will be transported to the facility by FLETC security folks.
An annual climate chart of Artesia is included below to give you some idea of the temperature ranges and what to pack. Artesia is on Mountain Time.
You should not leave there with any questions unanswered. There will be 2 class officers from TSA and possibly a “mentor” from a previous class. If these people do not know the answer, they will go out of their way to get one for you.
Good luck in class! Please feel free to provide any feedback, or let us know how we can update this preparation document!
FLETC CHECKLIST
(where FLETC already provides gear, the suggestion you bring your own is for increased comfort)
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