Photo by Erica Techo.
Lt. Clay Hammac poses with mementos from his participation in the FBI National Academy. Along with his diploma is a yellow brick, which signifies his completion of a 6.1-mile obstacle course as part of the 270th National Academy class.
The Wizard of Oz might not be the first thing individuals relate to law enforcement, but three times a year, agency leaders gather in Quantico, Virginia, to follow — and conquer — the Yellow Brick Road.
These 200 or more law enforcement executives are taking part of the FBI National Academy, an 11-week program that offers training in communication, leadership and fitness. The Yellow Brick Road, a 6.1-mile obstacle course, is a physical challenge that participants take part in at the conclusion of the program.
Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force Commander Lt. Clay Hammac graduated as part of the National Academy’s 270th class on Dec. 15. Upon returning to work Dec. 27, Hammac said he looks forward to applying what he learned in Quantico.
“The entire intent and design [of the academy] was to foster a greater partnership between federal law enforcement and state and local law enforcement,” Hammac said.
The 270th class included officers from around the world and provided an opportunity to build on their experiences and learn from an academic curriculum designed by the FBI, Hammac said. Topics included 21st century policing theories, models of community policing and media relations, and leadership theory and practice.
In Hammac’s “Essentials of Law Enforcement Executives” class of about 50 students, he said everyone discussed case studies and past experience in order to share tactics they could bring back to their communities.
A takeaway for Hammac was looking at law enforcement as a service to the community, with the community being a customer.
“There are some community-oriented policing theories and ideas that we were able to take away, and I’m eager to implement here with the Drug Enforcement Task Force to be more engaging with our community,” Hammac said.
Along with those ideas, Hammac said he will bring a network of resources and individuals back to Shelby County.
“I guess if you ask any graduate from the National Academy what their greatest strength is, that they’ve taken with them from the academy, I think a lot of them would overwhelmingly say the network,” Hammac said. This network can offer input on new challenges and provide solutions based on collective experiences, he said.
In addition to academics, they also endured weekly physical challenges, all Wizard of Oz themed, which served as preparation for the Yellow Brick Road.
The culminating obstacle course gets its name from the pathway of painted yellow rocks it follows. Individuals who successfully complete the course receive a yellow brick to signify the accomplishment.
“That’s one of those cherished mementos I think a lot of national academy graduates before me display in their office,” said Hammac, whose brick rests atop a bookcase in his office. “It really is humbling to think back that I had a chance to be part of that.”
Participating in the academy was an honor, Hammac said, and involved a nomination and vetting process as well as background check. While the application process was laborious, he said support from the Sheriff’s Office and Birmingham FBI field office was helpful.
Support from the Sheriff’s Office command staff, his family and church also helped in the 11 weeks he spent away from home.
“I will always be humbled and grateful for this opportunity to have represented Shelby County,” Hammac said. “I look forward to getting back to work and serving alongside the hard working men and women of the Drug Enforcement Task Force.”