What are Proficieny Awards?

  Proficiency Awards provide an opportunity for explorers to earn a series of recognition items that acknowledge their law enforcement exploring experience. These awards recognize service, training, participation, and dedication to the post.

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When Do Explorers recive them?

  They're given out every year at our Explorer of the Year Dinner. (The Dinner are usually hosted at the end of August or the beggining  of September.)

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How are the Proficieny Awards worn?

  The commendation bars are worn on the right side of the explorer's Class A unifrom. 

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Ways Explorers Can Excel! 

  After the commendation bar is earned, small stars and numbers are given out to put in the center of the bar. Depending on the original award, they can recognize another year of service, another 100 hours of service, or another phase completed in the academy. Awards are also given out at the graduation ceremony of the Law Enforcement Explorer Academy. These awards are also distributed at the Explorer of the Year Dinner. Our dinner is every year, usually at the end of August or beginning of September. At this ceremony one explorer is chosen to be the "Explorer of the Year." This Explorer is selected based on contributions to the post, department, and community.

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1. Law Enforcement Training

Recognizes the accumulation of 60 hours of training in the following areas:

• History of law enforcement (1 hour)

• The contemporary law enforcement role (2 hours)

• The criminal justice system (2 hours)

• Radio procedures (2 hours)

• Basic patrol procedures (3 hours)

• Report writing (4 hours)

• Criminal law (6 hours)

• Juvenile law (2 hours)

• Traffic law (2 hours)

• Procedures of investigation (6 hours)

• Human relations (4 hours)

• Crime prevention (8 hours)

• Accident investigation (4 hours)

• Crime scene investigation (4 hours)

• Fingerprinting and classification (4 hours)

• Narcotics and dangerous drugs (2 hours)

• Arrest and search (4 hours)

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2. Community Service

Acknowledges 100 hours of community service, including traffic control, crowd control, perimeter control, providing police presence, and telecommunications support at events and assistance with community programs. Service is preapproved and logged by the advisor. The explorer is awarded a blue and yellow commendation bar and certificate.

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3. Crime Prevention

Includes the basic 8 hours of crime prevention instruction as well as an additional 8 hours of training in areas such as neighborhood watch, home security survey, and bicycle registration. The award is presented to Explorers who participate in at least three departmental crime prevention projects with a total of 25 hours of activity. The recognition is a green and gold

commendation bar, No. 04020.

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4. Law Enforcement Service

Includes assistance to the department in areas such as records, communications, data processing, etc. It recognizes an accumulation of 100 hours of service. The recognition is a red and gold commendation bar, No. 04021.

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5. Emergency Preparedness

Certifies that the Explorer has received training in advanced first aid and CPR; has received training in how the post would assist in a disaster, such as flood, tornado, hurricane, etc.; and has participated in at least one civil defense or community-wide disaster training exercise. This is recognized by a red and white commendation bar, No. 04022.

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6. Firearms Training

Includes 8 hours of firearms safety training and matches the guidelines stated in the NRA/Law Enforcement Explorer Firearms Certification Program. This recognition is the NRA Explorer Marksmanship bar (not Learning for Life item; see No. 99-264). Note: NRA membership is not required.

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7. Tenure

Awarded to those explorers who complete one year of satisfactory service to the post. The explorer is awarded a red commendation bar. 

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8. Perfect Attendance

Recognizes attendance at each scheduled meeting of the post during the preceding year. The explorer is awarded a yellow and white commendation bar and certificate.

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9. Drug Abuse Prevention

Acknowledges proficiency in drug abuse prevention training and service. Requires 6 hours of advanced training outlined in Drug Abuse Prevention for Explorers: A Guidebook (PDF - 396KB) and 50 hours of service in at least two different drug abuse prevention projects. 

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10. National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference Bar

Presented to Explorers who attend a national Law Enforcement Explorer conference. 

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11. National Law Enforcement Explorer Academy

Presented to Explorers selected to attend a National Law Enforcement Explorer Academy. 

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12. National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference Device

Presented to Explorers who attend more than one national conference.  Device should be placed on conference bar.  

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​13. Eagle or Gold Award Recognition

May be worn by an Explorer who has achieved the highest award and honor of the Boy Scouts of America which is Eagle or Girl Scouts of the USA which is Gold. The explorer is awarded a red, white, and blue commendation bar.

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14. Explorer Academy

Presented to explorers who attend the first phase of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Explorers Youth Academy or previously the Police Athletic League Law Enforcement Explorer Career Training Academy. The explorer is awarded a blue and orange commendation bar and a certificate from the academy.

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 15. Explorer of the Year

 Every year an explorer is chosen to be the Explorer of the Year. This Explorer is selected based on dependability, attitude, attendance, and contributions to the post, department, and community. Explorers of the Year are recognized for their outstanding performances and personal attributes. The explorer is awarded a blue commendation bar and certificate

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