Oath of Office

Chapter One

“You are about to embark on the most fascinating career an individual could ever wish for in his life.  None of you will ever have to look for a job again; you have reached the pinnacle that every person in the world should envy.  You are about to enter the FBI Academy and soon you’ll be FBI agents.  You have been chosen from thousands seeking to join you from all around the world.  You are sitting where you are because you are special, you are unique, and you are the best qualified in the nation.  Look around the room ladies and gentlemen.  Be proud to know that no one can match your accomplishments.”   

“Let it be known that your friends and family are extremely proud of you and will henceforth brag about your accomplishments, your assignments, and the contribution you’re making to our country.”  The tall, stately agent then bellowed, “Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, you have made it to the FBI Academy!  Be proud of yourself and what you have achieved up to now.”  

“I want you to know that this does not automatically make you FBI agents.  You have a long, grueling, sixteen weeks ahead of you.  Unfortunately, the weak will not be among you on graduation day.  Look around again.  Will you be among the proud to receive those credentials sixteen weeks from now?”

As I looked around, I first noticed everyone seemed to look alike or at least cut from the same mold.  Every new agent recruit in the room donned the traditional dark suit, shiny dark wing tip shoes, and white dress shirts.  Although it was 1979 and hairstyles were fairly long, the new agent recruits had relatively conservative hairstyles.  Moreover, everyone seemed fairly studious and ready to show the next person he was there because he was the best of the best. 

More than anything else, I noticed only one other person who looked like me, and he was sitting in the far corner of the auditorium.  We made eye contact and exchanged the traditional, “What’s up brother” greeting from across the room.  Although we didn’t formerly talk nor were we introduced, we knew we’d have to depend on one another before this ordeal was over.  We had that unspoken, “I got you covered” conversation without ever saying one word.

The Bureau executive then swore us in to this elite organization and told us to get to know one another.  He said we had a long ride to Quantico, where we’ll begin our initial training in a few hours.  “Gentlemen”, this time without acknowledging the women present, “You have just taken the most serious oath of office any man can ever undertake.  Take it to heart and understand you are the elite thirty new agent recruits in the nation.  We have searched the country over and we’ve invited you to join our ranks.”  Being among the best in this elite group, I quietly counted and realized there actually were only twenty-nine of us.  But I knew that the way to stay on their good side was to let them think they’re right.  That separated the smart from those with plain old good common sense.

I could hardly believe that I had made it through the grueling testing and screening the FBI had put me through the past six months.  I couldn’t help but think of the things that happened to me as a youngster that not only would have prevented me from being here, but also may have landed me in jail for a long time.