Rev. 1/23/14 Protocol and Communications Office

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

FLETC Office of Artesia Operations Overview

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), Office of Artesia Operations (OAO), 

is one of three FLETC residential training sites in the United States. Named for the town where it 

is located in the heart of southeast New Mexico’s oil and dairy belt, the 3,620-acre site includes a 

full range of facilities for conducting basic and advanced law enforcement training.

The FLETC acquired the campus of the former Artesia Christian College in 1989 and has since 

steadily improved and expanded the facilities there to support the growing need for quality 

training by the FLETC’s Partner Organizations. In addition, the FLETC OAO houses certain 

specialized assets – notably a collection of grounded 727 aircraft – used to support a variety of 

anti-terrorism training programs, and four International Border Fences replicating barriers used 

throughout various areas on the border between the United States and Mexico. The fences 

provide realistic training venues for students participating in scenarios while attending basic and 

advanced programs. 

Shortly after September 11, 2001 and in response to Congressional mandates, the focus at the 

FLETC OAO shifted heavily toward Air Marshal training. Within three months of the terrorist 

attacks, the FLETC developed and delivered a new basic training program for Federal Air 

Marshals (FAMs). Due to the requirements associated with training a Congressionally mandated 

number of FAMs, the FLETC OAO was identified as the permanent location for the FAM

training program delivery. As a result, FLETC OAO’s student population grew tenfold between 

January and September 2002, and FLETC OAO’s staffing levels correspondingly increased by 

approximately 150%. Training for Air Marshals remains constant to date. 

The Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) training was added to the FLETC OAO’s repertoire in 

September 2003. FFDOs are commercial pilots who volunteer their time to become part of the 

nation’s first line of defense against terrorist acts. During the class, the pilots learn defensive 

tactics, firearms, flying armed, and judgmental pistol shooting. 

The United States Border Patrol (USBP) consolidated all of its training activities at the FLETC

OAO in September 2004. This further solidified the importance of the FLETC OAO in enabling 

the FLETC to meet our nation’s homeland security objectives. The USBP continues to be a large 

presence at the FLETC OAO. 

The FLETC OAO has been the home of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Indian Police 

Academy (IPA) since 1992. Basic, advanced and export training is conducted by the OAO staff 

for BIA and tribal police. Of great significance to the Indian Country law enforcement 

community is the presence of the BIA Memorial at the FLETC OAO. The Memorial honors the 
service and sacrifice of those BIA and tribal officers who have died in the line of duty. For a 

complete list, see: http://www. fletc. gov/about-fletc/locations/artesia/indian-country-lawenforcement-officers-memorial. html . 

In support of the significant growth in training programs, the FLETC OAO facility has expanded 

dramatically over the years. The site contains basic support facilities such as numerous 

classroom buildings containing classrooms, interview suites, a fully equipped courtroom, drug 

identification labs, and fingerprint labs. The 108,000 square foot Physical Techniques Building

houses mat rooms, gymnasium, cardio room, weight rooms, an aquatic training center, and the 

Health Unit for students and staff. The firearms complex includes 450 firing points in both 

indoor and outdoor ranges, as well as three live-fire shoot houses, three non-lethal shoot house 

airplanes, mat rooms, classrooms, cover courses, skeet range (which is used to hit targets in 

motion, thereby providing more realistic training than static target shooting), and judgmental 

pistol shooting simulators. Other facilities are practical exercise sites with checkpoints, barns, 

confidence courses, rail yard inspection training area (including rail cars, vehicle inspection area

with a tractor trailer rig and passenger buses), and support space. The driving courses include 

multiple sets of high-speed pursuit ranges, non-emergency vehicle operation courses, skidpans, 

and four-wheel drive courses, all which provide a wide range of real-world training 

opportunities. 

Student support facilities include a dining hall that can feed more than 1,000 students per meal,

and a student center featuring a convenience store and internet café. On-site housing includes 

single- and double-occupancy dormitories as well as modular dormitories. However, it is the 

dotted landscape of portable buildings that is the true sign of rapid growth. These buildings were 

constructed to provide additional language labs, classrooms, and office space. Construction and 

expansion of facilities include a language arts building, a Firearms Multi-Purpose Building,

detention facility, and an Auditorium including office space which was completed in fiscal year 

(FY) 2014. 

Training for USBP has stabilized from the FY 2008 level, when student numbers increased 52% 

compared to FY 2007. This was facilitated by the finalization of the USBP’s new 55 day training 

program and 40 day Spanish immersion programs. This restructuring of training for USBP 

allowed agents fluent in Spanish to graduate sooner and be deployed to the border more quickly. 

In FY 2009 OAO began to see a gradual reduction in USBP enrollment as the Secure Border 

Initiative came to a close. Through the joint efforts of the FLETC and the USBP, the goal of the 

initiative was reached, allowing the USBP to begin concentrating on filling vacancies created by 

the normal attrition process. In FY 2010 three new programs – for the United States Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Land 

Management – began training at the FLETC OAO. 

The FLETC OAO’s “can-do” attitude has been demonstrated repeatedly since September 11, 

2001 and serves as a continuous reminder of the success of DHS and the FLETC OAO’s ability 

to train those who protect our homeland. 

www.fletc.gov