SANFORD - Registration is under way for the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program.

Classes begin Monday, Aug. 15, for both the day and evening classes. The day class will conclude on Dec. 9, while the evening class concludes on May 6. Classes are held at CCCC's Emergency Services Training Center in Sanford.

Robert Powell, CCCC's BLET Director and Department Chair of Justice Studies, says that police work is a calling. "Officers spend their lives protecting and serving their communities. They are not stuck behind a desk. Instead, they are outside working on something challenging and rewarding," said Powell. "Most people recognize the sacrifice and dedication that officers put forward. It really is a job where you can make a difference. Where else can one disarm a potentially harmful situation, clear a road from a major accident, lead a search for a missing person, and deliver a baby all in one day?"

Students successfully completing the BLET program will be able to:

• Identify the elements of major and common crimes committed in North Carolina.
• Differentiate between misdemeanor crimes and felonies.
• Use critical thinking skills to determine the difference between civil and criminal laws.
• Identify common traffic violations and articulate those violations.
• Understand the constitutional rights of citizens in the United States.

Interested individuals must take the "Reading TABE Comprehension" exam through the CCCC Economic and Community Development Division.

According to North Carolina Training & Standards, participants must have at least a 10th grade reading level to enter the academy. Those who fall short of the reading requirement can contact a CCCC Admissions Counselor in Student Services to schedule a developmental reading class. Individuals must have an application on file with the college.

Participants must complete a criminal background check for every county he or she has lived in since turning 16 years of age. They must also run a driving record for every state lived in since receiving a driver's license. These checks, along with a doctor's physical, are good for one year.

While waiting for the class date to begin, participants should take time to get themselves in physical shape. By the first day of class, students need to be able to complete 50 pushups in one minute, 50 sit-ups in one minute, and three-mile run in 24 minutes or less.

For more information about the college's BLET program, visit www.cccc.edu/blet or contact Robert Powell at rpowell@cccc.edu or 919-777-7774.

For more information on Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.