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Disclaimer: NERLEEA is NOT affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Learning for Life or with their Law Enforcement Exploring Program, Which are trademarked by the BSA |
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NERLEEA COMPETITION TRAVEL TEAM
The purpose of this team is to provide Cadets with the opportunity to travel to competitions throughout the United States, to compete against other youth with the same interest of law enforcement. By the cadets having this opportunity they are able to experience what different agencies do across the country, make new friends, and have experiences not all cadets can obtain. The only requirements to be on the team is to be at least 15 years old with a local law enforcement agency in good standing within our service area of the association, and have their advisors permission and if under the age of 18 parental permission to participate.
Many have asked what they compete in. There are competitions all over the United States one of the largest is held here in CT where the cadets are able to put to practical use what they have learned in the classroom. Scenarios are set up and cadets must handle the situations as if they are police officers. This is a great way for the cadets to practice what they have learned in a safe and controlled environment. The scenarios are graded by police officers or academy instructors and awards are normally presented at the end of the event.
The NERLEEA Competition Travel Team was established in 2005 when we were invited to participate in a cadet competition in Villa Hills, KY. This was a last minute invitation only having about a week to prepare. We organized a multi-jurisdictional team of 6 cadets from CSP Troop C, East Lyme, Madison, and Waterbury to travel to this event. We scrambled together a uniform for the team and drove a very long 12 hours. When we arrived at the event in KY the local agencies from KY & OH were looking and wondering who the NERLEEA Travel Team screened across our shirts were. We were later told that many of them thought we were some sort of federal agency of cadets. Our team proudly competed in this event and received many compliments from academy instructors who were grading the event. And they were even more impressed at the fact that this team was brought together so quick that most of them only met the night before and worked so well together.
From this event the cadets wanted to continue, we have since traveled to OH, NH, NJ, NY, MA, & WA to compete in events. Of course the cadets have changed over the years with cadets growing up, aging out or their life paths changing, but we have continued to grow and adjust. In every event we have attended we overcame difference in laws between states and took home awards. Our proudest moment was this past July in NH when we took the First Place Best Overall Award for the event. This is something we have been told by organizers of the events we attended that we were close in placing before but never have.
Currently our team consists of cadets from Connecticut - CSP Troop K, Danbury, East Lyme, New Britain, Meriden, and Vernon. We also have a cadet from Portsmouth NH who will travel with us as well. Our team is also expanding with inquiries from cadets from various posts throughout CT and MA. |
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Pictured above are the cadets who attended the WA State SWAT Competition on 2/21/09. Back row from left to right Exp John Neilson of East Lyme CT, Exp LT Paul Fitzmaurice of CSP Troop K, Exp Ben Jarnagin of East Lyme CT, Exp Sgt Nick Galer of Danbury CT Front Row left to right Exp Cpt Kyle Brake of Portsmouth NH, Exp Cpt Alex Cardella of Danbury CT.
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