American Legion’s Matthew Griffis has been selected as the new director of Arizona’s American Legion Law Enforcement Career Academy (ALLECA).
ALLECA is a partnered youth program between the Department of Arizona American Legion and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) that began back in 1981 and has now reached its 38th year. ALLECA is a program geared toward those individual teenagers who have shown an interest in some phase of law enforcement or military.
Sponsored by The American Legion the program consists of an eight-day encampment and will be held at the Emmanuel Pines Camp, Prescott AZ. The program is offered to youths between the ages of 11 and 19. The cadets are fed three meals a day and are provided quarters and uniforms. You do not need to be a member of the American Legion to participate as a cadet.
This camp is not meant to correct disciplinary problems, but is one developed for kids interested in law enforcement or the military. Physical training is rigorous, so cadets attending the academy must be in good shape and able to run 1.5 miles within 15 minutes, and complete 35 pushups and sit-ups (depending upon age group) upon entering the program. The cadets experience many aspects of law enforcement, including, but not limited to; first-aid, air rescue, introduction to police K-9s, defensive tactics, SWAT, collision investigation, Citizenship and Americanism, building searches, active shooter, what not to do when driving, how to prevent bullying, etc. The encampment is under the direct leadership of the Department of Arizona American Legion and the Department of Public Safety with most of the instruction being provided by certified Arizona or Federal law enforcement officers.
A registered non-profit, ALLECA welcomes donations to help sponsor young people to attend. You can send a donation (check or money order) to ALLECA, P.O. Box 750, Cortaro, Arizona 85652-0750. Please make it payable to American Legion-ALLECA. If you are sending your donation in cash, please attach a note with your name, so ALLECA can thank you and send you a letter for tax purposes. For more information visit and the 2019 application, visit: http://www.orgsites.com/az/legionalleca/
