This summer a few selected law enforcement explorers will have the unique experience of participating in National Law Enforcement Exploring Leadership Academies. Their are four Leadership Academies during 2007. The hosts for the academies are The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Army Military Police.

There are only a few slots in each of the academies for the thousands of explorers that apply. As a result, the competition for admission is fierce and the acceptance into an academy indicates that the explorer is truly a role model for other explorers and a credit to his post, agency, and community.

It is therefore with great excitement that we announce that Explorer Sergeant Thomas Garmon of Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post 900 has been accepted into one of the National Academies. Now the competition for which academy he will attend has begun and Sergeant Garmon has requested the FBI Academy but is excited to attend wherever he is appointed. While Explorers will have the opportunity to indicate their choice, only 30 participants will be selected per academy; therefore, Explorers may be assigned to any one of the designated academies.

The focus of the academy will be on leadership and will deal with the dynamics of leadership, motivating others, and effective law enforcement leadership. In addition, some of the highly specialized law enforcement programs offered by various federal law enforcement agencies will be made available.