POE Field Training

The purpose of the Field Training Officer (FTO) program is to provide an extension of Academy training in the field. FTOs provide additional learning and real life training experience that cannot be achieved in a classroom environment. The FTO program ensures that once cadets graduate from the CSP Academy, supervised field training will develop the new officer. 

Upon completion of Basic Training at the Academy, cadets graduate and become officer interns. The field training program is designed to assist the officer intern in applying the classroom knowledge they learned at the Academy to real life situations in the field. FTOs are committed to training and assisting the officer interns in successfully achieving their goal of becoming a CSP Port of Entry Officer.

During Basic Training cadets are assigned a primary FTO and a secondary FTO consisting of four phases for a total of 256 hours of training.

• Phase 1 - 32 hours of training
• Phase 2 - 64 hours of training
• Phase 3 - 32 hours of training
• Phase 4 - (extended) up to 128 hours of training

Field Training Program for Officer Interns

FTO Week One

During the first week of FTO training, the officer intern will observe the FTO. The first week of FTO training allows time for the officer intern to become familiar with their assigned troop office jurisdiction, and creates an opportunity for the officer intern to build working relationships with officers at the port.

FTO Week Two

During week two, the FTO begins to evaluate the officer intern. At this point the FTO becomes the observing passenger and the officer intern becomes the driver.

The officer intern will be evaluated in the following areas:

• Attitude 
• Appearance
• Relationships
• Performance
• Knowledge

Officer interns must achieve a "standard" rating in all evaluated categories in order to complete field training. However, if an officer intern is unable to successfully achieve a standard rating in all categories by the end of 256 hours, the officer intern will be referred to the Appointing Authority.

Field Training Officers

Field Training Officers go through an extensive process to achieve the title of FTO. First, the officer should have a minimum of two years of experience and be recommended by their supervisor for the position. A written exam is administered to all of the approved applicants; those who successfully pass the written exam are required to attend a one-week training course known as the FTO Basic Course. The FTO Basic Course focuses on "adult learning" and "adult communication." During the one-week training course, the officers must successfully pass a second written exam, an assessment center and finally a written practical test. Becoming an FTO takes a lot of dedication and commitment. 

FTO Training Coordinator

The Field Training Officer Program is managed by an FTO Coordinator. The FTO Coordinator, who is located at the Colorado State Patrol Academy, oversees the FTO program in the field for all officer interns. The FTO Coordinator is also responsible for training current officers to become Field Training Officers and ensuring that current FTOs maintain their FTO certification.