Jimmy stopped at a roadside restaurant and ordered spaghetti, a steak, and a cup of coffee. He leisurely passed the time, knowing full well from his days as a Patrol Officer that long drives truly required rest, especially given the dangers of driving while fatigued.
While Jimmy was eating, a family of three sat down at the table next to him. The couple was discussing where to head next, and from the sounds of their conversation, it seemed they were traveling during the holiday period.
Jimmy ate while listening to them complain when suddenly they mentioned Big Fog Mountain National Park.
Jimmy turned to them and said, "Excuse me, I just heard you say Big Fog Mountain National Park is quite dull at the moment? I was actually planning to vacation there."
The man replied, "Oh, no, definitely don't go now; it's such a waste of time. It just snowed there a few days ago, and now all you can do is idle away in the hotel, staring at the snowy scenery. There's no way to head up the mountain."
Jimmy asked, "So there's nothing else to do at Big Fog Mountain?"
The man answered, "Not really, Big Fog Mountain is mostly for family leisure and viewing scenery. Currently, because of the heavy snow, it's troublesome to travel, and it's dangerous, too. Our family went there for nothing, stayed one night, and then headed back."
Jimmy said, "Alright then, I guess I need to replan my route. Thank you."
The man said, "You're welcome."
After finishing his lunch, Jimmy didn't linger and went straight back to his car. He needed to take another look at the travel map, as he had only 3 or 4 days left, so there was no time for far-off places.
After looking around, Jimmy realized he had no choice but to give up. From Knoxville to Quantico City, Virginia, there was still about 800 kilometers to cover, and none of the attractions around Knoxville were of much interest to him.
Jimmy thought for a while and decided to head early to Quantico, unsure if the FBI National Academy would accept early reporting. If not, he would have to find a place nearby to stay for two days.
Jimmy started his car and drove directly on Highway 81 towards Virginia. By evening, he had rested in a place called Marion for one night before setting off the next day towards Richmond, the capital of Virginia. After one night's stay, he proceeded directly to Quantico.
The FBI National Academy that Jimmy was headed to was located in a forest next to Quantico City, along with the Marine Corps training base and the DEA police academy.
Jimmy arrived one day early at the reporting point, but he couldn't drive himself to the academy; he would need to find a hotel in nearby Stafford to stay for one night, then gather at the reporting point the next day to take a bus with others to the academy.
The biggest trouble for Jimmy was his car. With time on his hands, he contacted a parking lot, rented a long-term parking spot, cleared out his vehicle, and took his luggage to the nearby hotel.
Early the next day, Jimmy arrived at the reporting point with his luggage and boarded the academy bus, waiting for others to arrive as well. Once everyone was aboard, the bus started up and drove down a forest road, eventually arriving at the FBI Academy nestled within the woods.
During the bus ride, everyone on board was silent. No one spoke, and the atmosphere felt incredibly oppressive.
Eventually, the bus stopped in front of a large building. People began to get off, and Jimmy collected his luggage, following the crowd into the building.
As he walked, Jimmy observed both the other people and his surroundings. After getting off the bus, most of them seemed excited yet nervous. Jimmy was really looking forward to this training, aware of his shortcomings. Although he had been a policeman for two years, he had never gone through systematic training and, strictly speaking, he was just a half-baked cop.
For many people, becoming an FBI Agent carries a sense of mystery, and arriving at the enigmatic FBI Academy for training to become an agent is currently the greatest goal for these cadets, as well as for Jimmy. However, he doesn't yet know whether he'll be able to pass the tests and coursework at the academy.
Not all those who arrive at the FBI Academy necessarily graduate successfully. Normally, the FBI only chooses a portion of the cadets with excellent results to receive badges and be assigned positions. Those who don't receive assignments have to leave.
The FBI Academy is unfamiliar to these newcomers. Everyone simply follows instructions, entering the building, walking down the corridor to the registration desk to sign in, and being assigned dormitories—everything proceeds just like freshmen entering college.
After Jimmy and the others set their luggage down, they proceeded to the hall, where academy supervisors and counselors explained important points and preparatory work. At the same time, staff prepared clothing and equipment for each cadet.
Once everything was arranged, all the cadets were assigned dormitories to rest in.
The next day, the cadets began their official life at the academy. All had to participate in a training program for new employees, acquiring a detailed and systematic understanding of the FBI's history, culture, and organizational structure. They learned about the tests they would soon take and the courses they would attend at the academy, and they also took an oath of honor.
"As a student of the FBI Academy, I commit myself to the pursuit of truth and knowledge. I endorse the highest standards of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and noble conduct. I will not condone the actions of those who, in pursuit of moral expectations, resort to dishonest means."
For Jimmy, his understanding of the FBI mostly came from television shows and movies he had seen in the past. Having the opportunity to learn about the FBI's history and structure from scratch was a novel experience. As for the oath, well, Jimmy didn't think it was anything special; he had to take an oath when he became a police officer too—it was just a formality.
On the third day, the cadets faced their first challenge, the physical fitness test.
The FBI demands that all agents possess sufficient physical fitness to complete their training. Passing the physical fitness test is crucial for successfully completing the subsequent fundamental training courses, ensuring that cadets can effectively fulfill their duties after graduation.
Of course, at the academy, there are agents assigned specifically to physical training, and facilities such as gyms and sports venues ensure that cadets remain in good physical condition throughout the 5-month learning process.
The physical fitness test content is not extensive: sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, a 300-meter sprint, and a 1.5-mile run, with a scoring system for each component. The passing score is a total of 12 points.
For sit-ups, the proper form is required, and completing 38 in one minute earns 1 point; there can be no rest in between. Thereafter, every few additional sit-ups earn an extra point, with a maximum of 10 points for 58 or more.
For push-ups, the correct form means keeping arms and shoulders in line when descending. There is no time count, but they must be done consecutively. Scoring starts from 30-32 for 1 point, 33-39 for 2 points, with subsequent increases earning additional points, and a maximum of 10 points for 71 or more.
For pull-ups, the requirement is that the chin must go above the bar. Scoring begins at 2 or more, and the maximum score is 10 points for 20 or more.
The 300-meter sprint starts scoring at 52.4 seconds or less, with a full score for 40.9 seconds or less, and 1 point is deducted for every 1.5 seconds over.
The 1.5-mile run starts scoring at 12:24, with a full score for 8:59.
The above standards apply to males; females have lower requirements. There are 5 tests in total, with no more than a 5-minute rest between each. At least 1 point must be scored in each test component for a total minimum score of 12 points.
Thankfully, such content was not a problem for Jimmy. He was indeed young and had kept up with fitness and combat training while serving as a patrol officer over the past two years. Maintaining consistent physical training meant that passing the test was not an issue for him.
For cadets, the requirements for prospective agents and intelligence analysts differ. For prospective intelligence analysts, the physical fitness test results are more of a reference and are not mandatory.