Malmstrom Airman attends FBI National Academy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The FBI National Academy is a prestigious opportunity for individuals in the law enforcement career field according to Master Sgt. Elizabeth Rodenhauser, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of operations, who earned the opportunity to attend the course in October 2018.

The National Academy Program, held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., offers 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training for law enforcement professionals who have proven records as professionals within their agencies.

"It's centered around officer wellness," Rodenhauser said. "They are trying to create leaders and the new culture in law enforcement to take care of each other."

Rodenhauser said to attend the training she had to be selected amongst other security forces Airmen around the Air Force, receive a medical examination and screening, and speak to an agent to ensure she was the candidate the FBI was looking for.

While attending the academy, Rodenhauser said one of the classes she keyed into immediately was advanced spirituality, wellness and vitality issues in law enforcement practices.

According to the course description, the course introduces law enforcement executives to contemporary issues in maintaining employee wellness at all levels. The course aims to enhance long-term career performance of law enforcement executives and their subordinates by evaluating and enhancing spiritual (religion-neutral) concepts, wellness practices and resilience techniques.

"We got an overview of all different types of practices that center around resiliency and making you a stronger person and helping you cope with some of the stressors in your everyday and professional lives," Rodenhauser said. "It was one of my favorite classes because there's so much more out there that we don't really consider."

"Now that I have experience with this, I can maybe recommend techniques to Airmen on more of a personal level," she continued. "The academy wants to pass this information on to us so we can take it back to our work centers and push it forward. They did a really good job with it."