Citrus County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Brad Smith hit the ground running when he returned to Citrus County after graduating from the 246th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

Last week, Smith quickly immersed himself in his role as Sheriff’s Office operations sergeant for the east side of the county, working closely with Capt. Buddy Grant, who serves as the east side commander.

The FBI National Academy program is a course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement professionals that serves to improve the administration of justice in law enforcement agencies at home and abroad, and raises law enforcement standards, knowledge and cooperation worldwide.

The academy’s mission is to support, promote and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders by preparing them for complex, dynamic and contemporary challenges through innovative techniques, facilitating excellence in education and research, and forging partnerships throughout the world.

Students are top leaders and managers of state and local police departments, sheriff’s offices, military police organizations and federal law enforcement agencies. Participation is by invitation only, utilizing a nomination process. Class members are drawn from every state in the union, U.S. territories and more than 150 international partner nations.

For 10 classroom-hour weeks, four times a year, classes of some 250 officers take undergraduate and/or graduate college courses at the FBI Academy campus in the following disciplines: law, behavioral science, forensic science, understanding terrorism/terrorist mind-sets, leadership development, communication, plus health/fitness.

Officers participate in a wide range of leadership and specialized training, and they share ideas, techniques and experiences with one another, creating lifelong partnerships that span state and national lines.

Anyone who’s ever attended the National Academy knows all about the “Yellow Brick Road,” the final test of the fitness regimen. It consists of a 6.1-mile grueling run through a hilly, wooded trail built by the U.S. Marines. Along the way, participants are challenged to climb over walls, run through creeks, jump through simulated windows, scale rock faces by rope, crawl under barbed wire in muddy water, maneuver across a cargo net and much, much more.

Those students who complete the arduous test receive an actual yellow brick to commemorate their achievement. (By way of history, the course became known as the Yellow Brick Road after Marines placed yellow bricks as markers at certain points to guide runners along the wooded trail. The overall fitness challenge at the National Academy began in 1981, and has evolved over the years. The tradition of awarding yellow bricks to students who complete the course started in 1988.)

“The FBINA was an amazing experience and certainly a highlight of my career,” Smith said, “especially with the exemplary academic instruction, intense physical fitness training and networking opportunities I received.”

“I’m honored to have been selected to represent the CCSO, and I thank Sheriff (Jeff) Dawsy for the chance to attend the National Academy,” he added.

Smith joins a long list of Sheriff’s Office grads of both the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Ky.