Exploring Careers in Law Enforcement : Education: Scouts get a taste of what a real police academy is all about during a four-day training session at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

About 90 Police Explorers graduated Monday from the Orange County Law Enforcement Explorer Academy held at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station over the weekend.

The four-day program, held twice each year and staffed with volunteers, is for male and female Explorers ranging from 14 to 20 years in age who want a career in law enforcement or related fields, said Janie Walker, academy director and police reserve officer for the Costa Mesa Police Department.

“We try to instill pride, leadership and confidence in these young adults,” she said. “We try to make it as close to a real police academy with all the stress and a lot of push-ups. We all get about five hours of sleep a night.”

Walker said almost all Orange County police departments act as posts for the Explorer program, which is chartered through the Boy Scouts of America. Volunteers from the departments donate their time to staff the academy and teach 10 classes including criminal law, military drill, radio communications and canine patrol.

“We also do a lot of competitive things between platoons,” Walker said. “The Explorers are constantly competing for spirit and teamwork. This kind of competition is a natural kind of thing between people of this age group.”

At the end of the program, trophies are awarded for performance in the areas of physical agility, spirit, notebook quality, marching and final examination. A graduation is held for students, parents and police department dignitaries.