PARs

Pre-Academy Recruit Program

Hiring Incentive

$ 0

Contact a recruiter for more information.

The foundation for your career

This paid, pre-academy program challenges recruits to rise to the department’s standards while developing strength, discipline, and unity before academy training begins. By immersing participants in real expectations, real teamwork, and real opportunity, PARs ensures you don’t just arrive at the academy… you arrive prepared.

What You’ll Learn & Experience

Physical Readiness

Recruits participate in daily strength and conditioning sessions designed to prepare them for the physical demands of the academy. Training focuses on endurance, strength, injury prevention, and long-term fitness.

Foundational Training

Classroom instruction introduces recruits to core law enforcement principles and department expectations. This training builds the mental discipline and knowledge needed to succeed in an academy environment.

Professional Standards

Through team formation training and structured exercises, recruits develop discipline, accountability, and trust. Emphasis is placed on operating effectively as a cohesive team while upholding FCPD’s professional standards.

Career Exposure

Recruits gain insight into the diverse roles within FCPD through presentations and demonstrations from specialized units. These experiences broaden understanding of career paths and inspire long-term goals.

Learn from someone on the inside

Hear directly from Sgt. Cross as he explains the purpose of PARs, what the department looks for in recruits, and how the program sets the foundation for success in the academy and beyond.

A Day in PARs

See what a typical day in the PARs program looks like.

Roll Call

The day begins with roll call and a review of priority cases from the previous day, reinforcing accountability, awareness, and professional communication.

Instruction & Engagement

Recruits rotate through classroom instruction, facility tours, specialty unit demonstrations, or team-building exercises that introduce department operations and expectations.

Resilience Yoga

Guided resilience yoga focuses on flexibility, recovery, and mental wellness, supporting long-term performance and injury prevention.

Lunch

Recruits break for lunch, allowing time to refuel, reset, and connect with teammates.

Team Formation Training

Structured team training emphasizes communication, leadership, and cohesion while reinforcing the importance of trust and accountability.

Physical Training

Led by a strength and conditioning coach, physical training builds endurance, strength, and readiness for academy-level physical demands.

Recovery & Dismissal

The day concludes with recovery time and dismissal, ensuring recruits are prepared for consistent performance throughout the week.

Take the next step

The PARs program is the first step toward a rewarding career with the Fairfax County Police Department. If you’re ready to challenge yourself, build lasting teamwork, and prepare for academy success, PARs is where your journey begins. Apply now or contact a recruiter for more.

Picture Yourself Here

See what it is like to be a part of our PARs program.