The Boy Scouts Grizzly Base Camp near Bigfork served as the backdrop to the inaugural U.S. Border Patrol Explorer Academy in the Flathead Valley.

Fourteen participants trained over six days learning law enforcement skills through simulated scenarios, classroom instruction and physical fitness. They representing border patrol stations in Whitefish; Oroville, Washington; and Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

“This is like their basic training,” John Tafolla, border patrol agent for the Oroville Border Patrol Station, said on Aug. 13, the day before graduation. “They learn arrest techniques, defensive tactics — right now they’re learning about intelligence investigations — water survival, ATV training, a lot of training on use of force and when force is appropriate, what type of force is appropriate.”

Eight of the participants are trainees completing their first Explorer Academy. The trainees wear gear similar to that of U.S. Border Patrol agents.

Eighteen-year-old Amanda Buxton of Lakeside shows off the gear — leather boots, green cargo pants, baseball cap and, underneath a blue T-shirt, body armor. Around her waist is a duty belt and a training handgun. When she prepares for a simulation, she straps a training assault rifle across her chest. The lifelike weapons are made of orange plastic.

“They’re instructed to use these like a real firearm,” Tafolla said. “They’re not to point it at anyone unless the situation calls for it.”

Buxton, like other trainees, had to apply and interview for a spot on the Explorer Academy. She has been interested in a law enforcement career since sixth grade. Just a couple of weeks before the Explorer Academy, she attended a Junior Police Academy in Helena.

While there aren’t written tests to make it to graduation, the trainees are tested through simulated scenarios such as people crossing the border illegally, people smuggling contraband, or what to do when a patrol agent’s partner is being assaulted and a chain-link fence prevents grabbing the suspect.

“They definitely get your heart racing,” Buxton said.

Tafolla added, “There’s a lot of hands-on skills and we require them to demonstrate to us that they have learned them and can do them with proficiency.”

It’s not just hands-on skills trainees need to demonstrate, but also quick thinking and good judgment when assessing a situation and whether physical force is necessary.

 “You have to make quick decisions right on the spot and you have to explain why you made that decision,” Buxton said.

Out on a hillside, Tafolla gave the eight trainees an opportunity to demonstrate some skills. In this scenario, two people are crossing the border illegally. Seventeen-year-old trainee Roger Guillory of Kalispell leads a team in tactical planning.

“I’m going to be right behind the bathroom,” Guillory said, pointing over to an outdoor restroom located near a trail where the two people will come down.

Buxton added, “You could have one person with you and as they come past you can run around so you’re behind them to cut off at the back,” Buxton said.

The team gets into place around the hill. One team member lies on the ground near a tree, aiming his rifle. Another is stationed at the base of the hill.

Everything is fairly quiet until the sound of footsteps approaching can be heard up the hill. With their rifles aimed, the trainees shout questions at the suspects to get more information.

“Are you a U.S. citizen, sir,” one of the trainees shouts.

“I might be,” said one of the suspects.

“Answer the question. Yes or no,” a trainee asks forcefully.

The back-and-forth continues until the trainees ascertain the two suspects have crossed illegally from Canada and slowly approach them. The suspects are asked to put their hands over their heads, are patted down — one gun is found —and are arrested.

Afterward, a couple of Border Patrol agents critique their actions. The students are told that, overall, they did a phenomenal job in handling the situation.

The Explorer program is open to ages 14 through 21. The Border Patrol is just one sponsor of the Explorer Program, which is part of Learning for Life, a program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. There are a variety of career disciplines that can be offered in aviation, search and rescue, firefighting and medical, among others.

For more information, call the Whitefish Explorer Post 1930 at 862-2561 or visit www.explorerpost1930.org.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.