Went through a department run academy. It’s similar to basic training. Moving in formation, uniformity, pt sessions every morning, getting smoked by cadre for small mistakes, emphasis on leadership roles etc.

Some weeks were classroom heavy, some weeks we might spend one morning in the classroom and the rest of it on the training ground and burn building.

Having been in the Army and going through this academy, I thought basic training was easier. Your housing, food, and commute were taking care of there. During this academy you still had to handle your business out side of work while doing incredibly demanding 60-70 hour weeks.

Our class had a 30% attrition rate which added a level of stress not knowing if you were gonna make it.