The level of police officers' training is a growing concern in the minds of public officials and citizens. Most states have some minimum training requirements, but some type of field training program is generally acknowledged to be necessary. An adequate field training program provides transition from the classroom to the street, transmits organizational goals and objectives to the new officer, provides information peculiar to the individual police department and city, and gives administrators sound data upon which to base decisions regarding the retention or termination of probationary officers. The training officer is the key to a successful field training program. That officer's major duties include integration of new officers into the department and evaluation of their progress. The field training officer must be an effective trainer possessing excellent communication skills and an enthusiastic and positive attitude. Public recognition, management reliance upon the training program, pay incentives, and the maintenance of high entry requirements for training officers are all useful for selection and retention of well qualified officers. Specialized training for the field training officers and evaluation procedures are necessary to ensure system effectiveness. The field training program itself should be based on a field training guide which focuses attention on probationary officer's performance achievements.