Mastering the FDLE SOCE: Stay Focused on What Truly Matters!

 Every week I get this question from a frantic recruit who is freaking out because they have failed the FDLE SOCE twice and they know what that third strike means. No one wants to waste time and money and repeat the academy, so I understand the anxiety, but the question always baffles me.

It goes something like " Have you updated SOCEPREP.com to reflect the latest changes to permit-less carry in Florida?" I am human so for a minute I start to get annoyed and then I remind myself that I provide a service, I get paid to provide that service, and that a big part of the service is managing people undue anxiety. 

The reason the question is hard to field is because the truth is I look at the practice test the student is submitting and they are missing questions on the fourth amendment, but they are focused on the political semantics of a coming election year and permit-less carry. 

I personally love the idea of permit-less carry, but you know what? My personal opinion doesn't have a damn thing to do with the SOCE.

My political ideology does not matter one bit in my prep for the SOCE and if I focus on that bullshit, I will be wasting time and energy.

Take this as a lesson that will serve you as a Law Enforcement Officer and stay away from the cutting edge of politics and focus on what matters! What matters you ask? The Constitution! The Statutes! Criminal procedure! Fundamentals of Patrol! Report writing! You get what I am saying!!!!

Focus on the content and material and stop getting lost in the sauce trying to keep up with sensationalized click bait bullshit you saw on myface or spacebook, or whatever that trash is called these days.

Focus on the FED! What do I mean? Well, the supremacy clause in our constitution states that Federal law and/or the constitution supersedes any state or local law. So, I can answer a question based on my comprehension of the constitution because I know if I get a question that ask me to say it's ok to stop people based on the color of their skin that I am going to attack you with arguments that start with the 4th amendment which protects against unreasonable search and seizure and affords citizens the right to be left alone from government intrusion, so long as they are obeying the law.

I am going to move on to the 14th amendment which mandates "equal protection under the law, defines citizenship, and has a due process clause!"

I am then going to cite 42 U.S. Code § 1983 and that the elements of this action are defined and prohibited as a violation of civil liberties and the protections against these deprivation of RIGHTS!

So, we see that if I get a multiple choice question and I apply the foundations of all law I have an advantage against the author of the SOCE.

I do not have an advantage if I waste countless hours trying to understand political bullshit intended to confuse and ignite the public.

Focus on the structure of our law and stay away from the drama. My course does this at SOCEPREP.com we are not feelings based, rather fact driven.

We practice to comprehend concepts and we apply the constitution, nothing more nothing less. I will continue to talk my students off the ledge of anxiety and invite them back to the land of facts and precedent, but it doesn't mean I am not keeping up with the bullshit.

I parse all the latest down to the facts you need to pass this test. If you are tired of managing your anxiety and want a plan that works check me out at SOCEPREP.com where we offer 20 hours of direct instruction and a comprehensive 200 question randomized bank of questions geared to allow you to practice what you will face when you sit for the SOCE at Person Vue.

Focus on the variables you can control, be consistently good over occasionally great, and trust the process folks!! Never hesitate to reach out! I love to communicate, but I hate to see you guys punish yourself with unnecessary anxiety!