Va. State Police Pilot Program Lets Trooper Recruits Live Off Campus

Virginia State Police will allow trooper-trainees to live off campus during the academy starting in January, a move aimed at attracting more qualified applicants who may be unable to relocate full time.

Source Officer.com News

Joe Vince

Nov. 10, 2026

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Virginia State Police will let trooper-trainees live off campus during the 29-week academy beginning with the Jan. 25 training class.
Recruits can still choose to live rent-free at the academy, but the new option gives trainees more flexibility.
State police leaders say the change is meant to boost recruiting by removing barriers for parents, caregivers and others who need to be home at night.

Virginia State Police seal — A new pilot program will give Virginia State Police recruits the choice of living at home or staying rent-free at the academy while completing the agency's 29-week training program.

In an effort to expand its recruitment initiative, the Virginia State Police is giving trooper-trainees the option to live off campus while attending the academy.

The new pilot program begins Jan. 25, when the next basic training academy session starts, a state police news release stated, according to the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer. With that class, trooper-trainees will be able to live outside the academy while attending the 29-week session. Recruits will still be able to live rent-free at the academy, as well.

The change is part of an effort to expand the state police's recruitment pool by removing "barriers that may prevent highly qualified applicants from pursuing a career with the Virginia State Police," according to the agency. Capt. Clifford Kincaid, commander of the state police's training division, said that the program could make academy viable for parents, caregivers and others with responsibilities that need them to be home at night.

"Our goal is to attract top-tier talent to sustain operations, and we don’t want the Academy residency requirement to hinder our efforts," Kincaid stated in the release. "We want everyone who is qualified and wants to become a trooper to have the opportunity to become a trooper."

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.