Associate Magazine FBINAA Q1-2023

The Origins of the Youth Leadership Program Cindy Reed THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT

F B I N A A . O R G | Q 1 2 0 2 3

M any of the past Historian articles have been about individu als. I have enjoyed shifting the focus to programs we all take for granted without knowing the origins. Sometimes our more recent graduates will assume a program has “always been around” like the Yellow Brick Road brick tradition. (Fun histori cal fact: Although the obstacle course was begun in 1981, bricks were not awarded until 1988.) Just as the FBI often refers to the National Academy as their “Crown Jewel,” the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is referred to as the “Crown Jewel of the NAA.” Yet, few know the considerable efforts that brought it to fruition in 1998. With the arrival of YLP Session 24 in June, it is appropriate to realize the work it took to realize this idea in 1998. Here is a recounting of the history of the efforts that got the program to where it is now. It was shared by JimWeyant, NA Session 109, who can claim credit for presenting the idea to the board and shepherding it through the process over many years. When you read his recounting of the process, you can appreciate his tenacity. Jim was one of the four initial Sectional Secretary Treasur ers who were appointed in 1994 to relieve George Graves who had taken on the immense responsibilities to assemble and organize all the FBINAA memorabilia and dues cards. That had been an overwhelming task, especially before computers. When the four new appointees visited the home of George and Shirley Graves, they found one entire bedroom was devoted exclusively to FBINAA files and records. “Being aware of the perceived need for a National effort to bring all chapters together for a common cause, I took advantage of the process to suggest the board consider developing a “Junior National Academy” (for the sake of a better term at the start), whereby each chapter could send a young person to Quantico for a meaningful educational experience of which the entire FBINAA could be proud. Board members typically listened to these sugges tions – which were regularly made over the first few years of my eight-year term; however, since I could do nothing other than “sug gest,” no action took place to further the concept... I still felt the idea had merit and continued to make periodic mention thereof. Finally, realizing the “Junior Academy” idea needed an of ficial boost, I initiated a personal discussion with then Section I Vice-President Bernard “Chuck” Burke (with whom I had a close re lationship being as we were both past presidents of the California Chapter). I suggested that he make a motion before the board to pursue the concept, promising that I would pursue all the neces sary physical effort by developing a survey instrument to be sent to each chapter, collecting and collating the resultant date and preparing a proposed document for the National Board. Chuck Burke agreed, made the motion at a board meeting in the Spring of 1997, which was seconded and approved. Now that the long sought-after suggestion had become “official,” I then set to work. My first effort was creating a “JUNIOR NATIONAL ACADEMY SURVEY” document with an FBINAA cover letter addressed to each Here is Jim’s recollection:

chapter president to be signed by Section I Vice President Chuck Burke. After the Board reviewed and approved the survey instru ment, the cover letter was signed by Vice President Burke and copies were mailed to all 48 chapter presidents, requesting that they be completed and sent back to me at my home address. (His torian’s note: Remember this was before computers so all phases were labor-intensive.) Seventeen responses (33 percent) were received and, lacking adequate computer capability at the time, I hand-collated all the collected information and prepared a suggested proposal to be presented at the next chapter president’s meeting. The suggested proposal was thoroughly discussed at the Board meeting held during the National conference in Atlanta, and approved at the meeting held during the IACP conference in Orlando, both in 1997. The proposal was formally presented to the chapter presidents at their annual meeting at Quantico in January of 1998. The chapter presidents unanimously approved of the pro gram and the national board designated Vice President Burke to proceed. Chuck Burke and myself were joined by FBI Special Agent Tom Lyon (chief of the FBI Academy physical training unit) and Sec tion 3 secretary-treasurer Robert Walsh. The four of us prepared for the first session of the ultimately named “Youth Leadership Program.” Session Number 1 of the YLP was held in July of 1998 and, because Quantico was being used for Drug Enforcement Adminis tration (DEA) training as well as that of the FBI, there was simply no room to hold the entire session at the academy. As an alterna tive, accommodations were arranged at the Douglas MacArthur Motel in Arlington, Virginia and, other than the initial Friday and Saturday nights at Quantico and a tour of the academy and three classroom sessions, all classes, lodging and meals were conducted at the motel. The counselors and instructors for this initial session were as follows: - Margaret Ackley, New London, CT (NA Session 184) - William Baker, Sutton, MA (NA Session 129) - Bernard “Chuck” Burke, La Mesa, CA (NA Session 104) - Pat Huntsman, Chino Valley, AZ (NA Session 164) - Glorie Sacco, La Mesa, CA (NA Session 164) - Joseph Schneider, White Plains, NY (NA Session 146) - Robert Walsh, West Hartford, CT (NA Session 126) - James Weyant, Torrance, CA (NA Session 109)

During this initial session, twenty-two (22) hours of classroom

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