What does it take to be an FBI Special Agent?
In my case it takes special access. 40 Hawaii business owners, lawyers, and other who's who in the community have also been granted that same pass - as part of the FBI's 2012 Citizens Academy.
Tom Simon, an FBI special agent stated, "from the FBI's perspective it's important for us to do outreach to local community leaders to let them know how we do what we do and de-mystify the FBI to community leaders in the civic realm, business world and religious world."
It's an 8 week course that is usually kept under wraps... The FBI is not going to share its secrets with just anybody.
"Anyone who wants to be a part of the citizens academy must be nominated and go through a rigorous screening process," said Tom Simon.
But tonight, KHON2 viewers get to come along for an inside look. I jump right in, with the Hazardous Materials Response Team.
Ka'i said, "usually when you are doing this it's a buddy team, a 2 man team."
They suit me up in something that looks fit to walk on the moon. It takes several minutes to get everything zipped, pulled and buckled into place.
"Suction, so the air is really good yeah it's nice and clean."
When you're in this suit your body temperatures increases about 10 degrees. Needless to say, I couldn't handle the heat for long.
By far the most action of the night was with the FBI's shooting simulation system.
A multi-million dollar video game that generates a realistic situation an FBI agent may face in the field, where you learn to make life or death decisions.
"At the FBI academy at Quanitco Virginia, every agent candidate has to go through this FAST machine training, the exact same training that the citizens academy candidates go through this evening," said Tom Simon.
Last up was the Evidence Response Team. Here... it was lights out - as we used alternate light sources to reveal otherwise hidden evidence.
Al Ogata said, "it's very interesting to see what they have to go through to collect the right evidence to get the bad people off the streets essentially."
Next we tried the oldest trick of the trade, dusting for fingerprints.
For those nominated and invited to attend this class... It's certainly a one of a kind experience.
"But selfishly we also want to meet people in the community who might be helpful to the FBI if the need arises," stated Tom Simon.
Reporting from inside the F-B-I...
