DUBLIN — Registration for Basic Law Enforcement Training at Bladen Community College is Sept. 24. The 26-week program is approved for financial aid and VA benefits.

Eligible candidates for the BLET Academy must meet certain conditions:

— 1) Candidates must be citizens of the United States, and provide a copy of their birth certificate or naturalization papers.

— 2) Candidates must be at least 20 years of age at the time of registration.

— 3) Each candidate must be sponsored or employed by a public law enforcement agency prior to enrollment and maintain that sponsorship or employment throughout the course.

— 4) All candidates must provide to the BLET School Director, a Letter of Intent to sponsor the candidate from the sponsoring agency. The letter must include a statement verifying that a criminal background on the attendant has been conducted and that no disqualifying offenses were discovered. The letter should also indicate that the attendant is of sufficient moral character to attend the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy.

— 5) No candidate will be admitted to the Academy that does not meet the minimum standards for employment as established by the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and/or the N.C. Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission.

Prior registration for the BLET Academy is required before class attendance begins. Registration is Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. At this mandatory session, students will officially register for class, pay all fees, and purchase uniforms.

Classes meet Monday through Friday evenings, from 6 to 10 p.m. and every other Saturday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. On nights when Physical Conditioning classes are scheduled, (typically three nights per week), classes meet from 5:30 to 10 p.m. During the 26-week course, attendants will also be required to attend at least two weekday classes in Firearms and Driver training.

The BLET Academy fall classes begin on Sept. 28 and continue through March 26, 2016. Prior registration on Sept. 24 is required before attending classes. Cadets will have time off from classes during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For information about the Basic Law Enforcement Training academy, contact the program director, John Trogden, at 910-879-5536, or jtrogden@bladencc.edu. Visit the link to the webpage at http://www.bladencc.edu/blet/download.php.

Cathy Kinlaw is the public information director for Bladen Community College.

Cathy Kinlaw

Bladen Community College