Student Trooper Program Overview

The Program:

The American Legion, Department of Massachusetts, Inc. sponsors a “Student Trooper Program” in cooperation with the Massachusetts State Police Academy every year.

The program will provide first-hand experience and a lifetime in sight into the role of our police in promoting and safeguarding American freedoms and rights. The program affords those highly motivated, seriously interested young people an opportunity to consider law enforcement as a potential career choice. It also addresses youth and police inter-action and establishes an interpersonal relationship between the students and the officers in order to better understand the problems and attitudes of both groups, and to help develop a rapport between the youth of our state and the police.

Our desire is to recruit youths representing all communities and cultural backgrounds in the state and to increase their understanding and respect for those professionals responsible for enforcing the law throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This goal can best be accomplished by exposing these youths to law enforcement with an opportunity to witness objectively the rigid standards and training set forth in law enforcement today. The program gives the participants the opportunity to better understand why police officers take certain actions that may directly or indirectly affect them. All Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree, Ma. They are a group of highly professional, well-trained, and knowledgeable police officers.

The program consists of a one week, live-in class, at the police academy. Two classes are scheduled. Each will be an extensive law enforcement career-training program patterned after the Massachusetts State Police Recruit Training Program (this is not a summer camp). Discipline will be strict. Vigorous physical training, including running and calisthenics is required. Reveille is at 5:30AM and “lights out” is at 10:00PM. Each day the student will attend classes on a variety of police related subjects such as motor vehicle law, investigation techniques and firearm demonstrations. The youths will learn about special units such as special tactics, K-9, mounted units, helicopters, and computer capabilities, as well as problems in our society such as drug addiction and alcoholism. The experience is real, the physical exertion is real and the joy of accomplishment is real. This program is not designed for troubled teenagers.

Qualifications:

The program is open to male and female high school students 15 – 17 years of age in good scholastic standing. They must be of good moral character and present a well-groomed appearance with hair neatly trimmed (males must be clean shaven).

Due to the rigorous training and stress involved in a para-military-type academy, those requiring special diets or having special physical needs cannot be accepted.  The “Student Trooper Program” is open to all, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

All participants will be required to submit proof of good physical and mental condition.

Applications:

Applications can be obtained by clicking on the Student Trooper Application Form  (doc) link.

Applications may be obtained from any American Legion or high school. Applications must be authorized by an American Legion Post. Applicant does not have to be a relative of a member of The American Legion. The sponsor fee is $250.00; any person, business, organization, or a combination thereof may provide the sponsorship fee. The sponsorship fee must accompany the application when submitted. In the event that the applicant is not accepted, the sponsorship fee will be reimbursed to the provider. No refunds will be authorized for a student leaving the program before its’ completion or for “no-shows”.

If accepted, it will be the applicants responsibility to obtain a doctor’s certification attesting to his or hers fitness and to provide transportation to and from the academy located in New Braintree, Ma. A parent or guardian must sign a release of liability for The Massachusetts State Police and The American Legion, Department of Mass., Inc.

A parent or guardian must sign a release of liability for the Massachusetts State Police and the American Legion, Department of Massachusetts.

The deadline for submitting applications and sponsor’s check is May 15, 2009. 

Apply early as space is limited.

It is our hope that the participants will return to their community with a clearer understanding of police responsibilities and the problems they encounter. We are confident The Student Trooper Program will instill in these young people a newfound or increased respect for the police and that when they return the their communities, the will share their experiences.

All accepted applicants will be sent a packet which includes: a letter of acceptance, required equipment, fitness program, Student Trooper rules and regulations, medical status questionnaire (2 sided), medical authorization form (2 sided), time to report, a list of personal items to bring, and directions to the academy. 

Please visit the MSP Academy website at: Massachusetts State Police - Academy

Please see former SP Student Trooper Programs at: Past Student Trooper Programs

If you have any questions, please contact:

Mr. Bill McCarthy
Office: 781-316-3166
E-mail: WmcCarthy@town.arlington.ma.us