Events & Duties

Explorers have the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities, conferences, training events and more. These events are opportunities for Explorers to hone their skills, focus on physical fitness and give back to their communities.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Explorers are often requested by vendors, businesses and community partners for assistance with parking at their events. Such events include fairs, athletic events, festivals, PSO charity events and other service projects. Explorers will also attend school functions for recruitment and outreach about PSO. These opportunities allow the Explorers to interact with the community, while building communication and leadership skills.

STATE COMPETITION & CONFERENCES

Explorer Post 916 is a member of the Florida Association of Police Explorers (or F.A.P.E.). Each quarter, a law enforcement agency hosts a delegates conference, bringing together cadet programs and other Explorer Posts for a weekend of training and pistol competition. Topics may include traffic stops, in-progress calls, crime scene investigation and response to critical incidents. These conferences allow PSO Explorers to network and meet other Explorers from agencies across the state.

As a culmination of the quarterly delegates conferences, F.A.P.E. also hosts a weeklong competition with more structured events and rigorous expectations. Each event is scored on officer safety, communication skills, tactics and decision making, general law enforcement procedures and uniform appearance. Explorers have the opportunity to earn a spot on the State Team that participates in the scenarios.

Explorer Post 916 is incredibly proud to consistently earn top ten finishes in several categories. For the 2023 State Competition, Explorer Post 916 earned first overall out of 27 programs, with additional awards in:

* 1st place: Search and Arrest
* 1st place: In-Progress
* 1st place: Drill Team
* 2nd place: Traffic Stop
* 2nd place: Tie-Breaker
* 2nd place: Officer Needs Assistance
* 2nd place: Color Guard

NATIONAL COMPETITIONS

Explorers have the opportunity to compete on a national level at multiple events. Similar to in-state competitions, our Explorers are evaluated on a variety of skills, including officer safety tactics, emergency management considerations and teamwork. In addition to the competition, Explorers get the opportunity to enjoy visiting other parts of the United States. National events include Winterfest, held annually in Gatlinburg, and ExCon, held in Las Vegas.

Explorer Post 916 has earned top finishes on the national level including:

* 1st place in Uniform Inspection, Winterfest 2023
* 2nd place in Warrant Service, Winterfest 2023
* 2nd place in Law Enforcement Written Exam, Winterfest 2020
* 1st place in Active Shooter, Winterfest 2018
* 2nd place in Pistol Qualification, ExCon 2022
* 1st place in Suspicious Situation, ExCon 2023
* 2nd place in Laser Shot/Virtual Pistol, ExCon 2023

BANQUET

Explorer Post 916 hosts an annual appreciation banquet to reflect on the previous year’s accomplishments. Explorers enjoy dinner with friends, family, PSO members and community dignitaries, and are recognized for their achievements and hard work. Distinguished Explorers are also recognized for their community service hours and event attendance. Honors include Explorer of the Year, Dedication Award, Meritorious Service Award, as well as awards voted on by Explorers including Supervisor of the Year and Advisor of the Year.