Class 07 Day-one

4-August-2017

 On Friday 4-August  The Bogota Emergency Service Youth Academy held it's  Orientation  Duty Day for Class 07. This year the Academy will use Steen School as a home base.   Recruits started to  line-up along Orchard terrace to recieve their Cadet number. Next they proceeded down toward the school yard to be met by  Instructor LaFerrera at this point they were asked  if their Parents had to be awaken for inorder for the recruit to arrive on time. He also wanted to know if they thanked their Parent for doing this for them. But in order to satisfy  Instructor LaFerrera the answers need to said so that the houses across the street could hear them. Next  the recruits assemble in the school yard where   Instructor Riviera let them know how, where, and how fast they should form lines. When the last recruit arrived they headed into the David Moore Gym. 

      The assembled recruit then sat on the gym floor in information and waited.  So Sgt Lynch and Coordinator Anna Geraghty "Miss Anna" brief them on what the day will be like. They were told that it is called Orientation Day because the recruits will be  Orientated to learn what is expected of them by the Academy. And it was made clear that the Instructors will do that in any way they feel will accomplish that goal. They were told they were one  of only 63 Students selected  from also  over 170 who applied.  He asked the recruits to work hard and listen  to the instructions they will be given. Then each day will become better and they will become better as well.   Before they leaders of the Academy left " Miss Anna" offered a group hug to the recruits to assure them the Academy is looking out for their best interest. She told them they will be safe, it will be hard, it will be stressful, it will be emotional, and she will always be available if needed.  Then the recruits  returned to the Gym floor and waited.  

    After seconds, or hours of internal time,  there was motivation speeches from famous movies.  The main theme was that hard work, dedication focus, paying attention, loyalty  and pushing ones self harder then before will assist in achieving one's goals.  As the recruits listen  the Instructors quietly assembled behind the seated Students. As the tape ended their was a long quiet pause. Then the silence was broken with that all of the Instructors asking questions, demanding answers, and ordering the recruits to move all at the same time. Instructors wanted to know why things "are not happening now!!!!"  Others were wondering why their question have not been answers yet.  Then orders became faster than the words they were saying could be be heard  the recruits were given orders of what to do, when to do it, followed by  even more to do, and wondering why the first order is taking so long to complete. Recruits were moved of one side of the gym to the other, then back, then outside, then back inside, then to stand in formation. Push-ups needed to be done if a task was not up to standard. But if the recruit was not fast enough in getting down they had to try again, by standing up just as quick, then back down even quicker.  At time three  instructors were giving orders to one recruit, at the same time to all the recruits without pause.  In the myst of the whirlwind of orders one or two Instructors  and some of the Interns personally and calmly talked to each recruit and showed them how to perform better. Whether it was how to hold the arms by their side, or how to stand comfortably while at attention in order to reduce fatigue on the young recruits. 

   The stress of the situation did start to overcome a few of the recruits.  They were allowed to step away for a moment to see " Miss Anna" or Whitney Luciano in order to claim themselves.  After  a time to relax the recruits then returned to formation.  Maybe still scare, or confused but with a new chance to prove to themselves  of what they could really do.

    Then the first wave of adjustments ended and a calm was able to return to the gym. recruits then had a chance to find their bearings, get hydrated, and a small snack to restore the energy worked away in just over two hours.  Then  their civilian clothes were replaced with Bogota Police Emergency Services Youth Academy  uniforms.  The recruits were placed into one of four squads and drill instruction was began after lunch.  Recruits learned how to form into neat and orderly lines, how to march in unison  and how to listen to the Drill Master voice in order to know how fast or slow to move.  Instructions continued after lunch but with a more stated  purpose. Some recruits  were talked to privately and given the  opportunity to become squad leaders. They were told what was to be expected of them if they chose this leadership position.  After the recruits were pushed to their physical and emotional limits .... then stop.  Calm and quiet return to the gym. Recruits had a chance to rest,  take a breath, get a drink and wonder what has just happen to them.  After a second group hug from Miss Anna to congratulate them on  being accepted as a member of Class 07

   Class 07 with 63 Cadets is the largest in the history of the Youth Academy.  This year the Academy is starting the stage of the process to achieve the goals of the Bogota Emergency Service Youth Academy  Along with the normal complement of 58 first, or second Cadet 5 third year Cadet were added to Class 07.  Four of these were made into squad leaders.  Cadets Sanz, Murphy, Rosado, and Allen , all third year Cadets who applied to Class 07.  Cadet Gesmundo, also a third year Cadets who applied to Class 07, was named as Class Commander.  This is both reward the Cadets from previous classes for their hard work and dedication to the Academy. This is also an opportunity to learn leadership responsibilities, and continue the Academy's goal of preparing  the Cadet for a future life of service and succus. While these Third year Cadet were given a position, it is not guaranteed.  The hard work from past classes has been multiply to show that they have earned this honour. It also show the newest Cadet the possible rewards of being a member of the finest Summer Youth academy in the State of New Jersey

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