Maine Residents Complete Citizens Academy

3rd Class to Receive Certificates from Fort Fairfield Station

Ashland, Maine – Seven local citizens from the Ashland and Fort Fairfield, Maine areas successfully completed the third Citizens Academy held by the CBP U.S. Border Patrol Fort Fairfield Station on Saturday, May 12. Participants received classroom and hands-on instruction on the training and programs implemented by Border Patrol agents for successfully completing their mission.

The Citizens Academy consisted of local citizens and met every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a three-week period. The Academy informed the participants on the overall mission and function of the CBP U.S. Border Patrol and the Houlton Sector.

The Houlton Sector Citizens Academies are open to all citizens, 18 years of age and above, who are interested in learning about the Border Patrol’s history, legal authority, mission, operations and partnerships. Attendees receive approximately 12 to 15 hours of instruction within a period of three to five weeks from Border Patrol agents and various guest speakers, including other federal and local law enforcement agencies. The hands on instructions the participants receive consist of demonstrations and scenarios relating to policy and procedure, as well as utilizing some of the tools of the trade.

The Fort Fairfield Station would like to thank all of the participants and guest speakers for making this academy another great success. Houlton Sector would also like to thank the employees of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ashland Regional Headquarters for allowing the Academy to be held at their facility. Thank you to everyone and we look forward to hosting another Academy next year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.