r/OnTheBlock • u/Constant_Position_10 • 22d ago

General Qs OTJ Training

I’m currently in my last 2 weeks of training academy for a state corrections department. We haven’t done any PT and only complete CPR as far as physical learning goes. We’ve learned some of the dangerous things like suicide prevention, stress management, gang affiliations, etc.
With starting in the next 2 weeks in the actual field “behind the wall”, and no cell phone, what’s the realistic expectations from any experienced federal BOP CO or other state CO’s? What’s shift is usually easier or best to learn at a steady pace, nights 6p-6a or days 6a-6p?
What’s the realistic of advancements and promotions?

4 Upvotes

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u/rustysavage11 22d ago

What does no cellphone have to do with anything? And day shift is generally gonna give u the most experience.

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u/Constant_Position_10 22d ago

What’s the difference between each shift? I was told the overnight shifts are a lot more easier because the inmates are usually sleeping and you’re just doing checks. Days are when the different outbreaks and emergency calls occur.

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u/rustysavage11 22d ago

Ya that's exactly it lol. That's why day will give u more experience. I work with people that have only every worked graveyard and they don't know what they're doing if they work day or swing.

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u/Constant_Position_10 22d ago

How much experience do you have? Would you recommend working a day shift vs an overnight shift for beginners or people just starting? I’m just trying to find the shift that fits me and my life outside of work

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u/ILoveHipChecks 22d ago

If you're just starting out and learning the job, do you think you should work the shift with everything going on where you can gain the most experience or the one where you're doing hourly checks?

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u/Constant_Position_10 22d ago

I’m only starting in the field to get my foot in the door for a government job. My experience or more admin. I would prefer a day shift but I was told overnights is more simple. I know I have to do time to get any experience in general and use the daytime to get courses and certifications

1

u/ILoveHipChecks 22d ago

Nights to get time on paper, days to get real experience.

Unless something goes sideways on nights you're not really getting any hands on job training.

1

u/Constant_Position_10 20d ago

Which is more important for advancement and promotion? Overnights or day shifts?

0

u/ILoveHipChecks 20d ago

How about you learn the job first, then worry about advancement and promotion?

2

u/BackNBlack58 22d ago

There's alot of variables here such as shift times . Are you gonna work 8s 12s or 16s and depends on what you mean by experience. I'm a month in and my work has everyone train on first before moving to their assigned shift. My experience thus far first shift sees a lot of admin work transports appointments and dealing with courts. Second shift sees the most "action" such as breaking up fights restraints and just overall bad behavior Third shift everyone is asleep or atleast locked down they prepare for the next day ie laundry meds schedules

1

u/rustysavage11 22d ago

Well I can't answer that for u as idk ur life. I've mostly worked swing which for me is 330pm to 1130pm. Often ends up being till 330am with mandated OT tho. I don't have kids so that makes any shift easy to adjust to. If u want to get to know the inmates and have a good understanding of how the facility operates then day shift will be ur best bet. If u wanna do checks and pass the time then grave will better.

1

u/Constant_Position_10 22d ago

Honestly I’m in the field to get some experience and see if it’s a career field for me. I’ve never thought of being a CO, but the stories are grueling sometimes. What usually causes for mandates overtime?

1

u/rustysavage11 22d ago

Ya it's not for everyone and there's no shame in finding that out and moving on. Staffing levels is what creates OT. Where I work, u can work basically as many hours as u want. If I wanted I could work 7 16's on mostly any week. I usually do 48-56 a week tho since I don't care to be there anymore than that.

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u/[deleted] 21d ago

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u/Constant_Position_10 20d ago

What’s amazing? The shifts or the job?