More than mere mentors and more than just role models, FTO's are what their trainees will measure themselves against throughout their patrol careers. Although the police academy creates the academic foundation for the rookie officer to build upon, it is the FTO who guides the rookie into putting knowledge into practice in the field in accordance with the mission and integrity promoted by the department. The selection of officers to be trained as FTO's is critical. An applicant's motivation for wanting to be trained as an FTO must be clear. There is no room for officers who view being an FTO as a step toward a more lucrative promotion. The motivation for being an FTO must be to train officers to be productive and ethical patrol officers. Further, the applicant must have proved himself/herself as an effective patrol officer with an excellent record of ethical performance. The training regimen to become an FTO varies from department to department. The larger agencies have their own FTO training programs tailored to the particular goals and strategies of their departments. Smaller agencies may send their applicants to be trained at academies. Training should encompass the kinds of proficiencies that a rookie officer should develop and also address FTO teaching methods that are most effective for the development of the knowledge and skills required of patrol officers.