Jean-Pierre Calderon knows how to write a ticket.

He also knows how to direct traffic and fill out an arrest report.

But the 18-year-old hasn't even entered the police academy yet.

The teenager said he owes his training to North Miami's Police Explorer Program, where teenagers can get a taste of law enforcement before they graduate from high school.

``I feel like I'm ready to be an officer,'' said Calderon, after he watched a North Miami police officer check a car at a recent drunk-driving checkpoint. ``I learn something new every time I do one of these things.''

Police and fire departments across the county, including Hialeah, Miami, Homestead, Miami Beach, Surfside and North Miami Beach offer Exploring programs to give teenagers a glimpse of possible careers.

``They learn leadership, how to be self-reliant and how important it is to give back,'' said Luis Sanchez, Miami-Dade police officer and advisor for Post No. 513, based at Miami-Dade headquarters in Doral. Miami-Dade police has seven posts across the county.

``We do have a lot of fun, too, but there is more to it than just fun.''

The Exploring program -- celebrating its 60th anniversary this year -- falls under Boy Scouts of America's Learning for Life, which encourages career building and developing leadership skills. Exploring posts are run much like a Boy Scouts troop but are coed. Each post sets up its own rules and organizes different activities. Most departments provide uniforms to the students and run the program at little or no cost to the explorer.

North Miami Beach Police Chief Rafael Hernandez said his department's explorers are an ``integral part of the police family'' and help out tremendously.

``They are out there at almost every event helping the officers and helping the city,'' he said.

Explorers also participate in national and state competitions where posts compete in bicycle obstacles courses, emergency response and proper drill procedures.

Hialeah Police officer Patricia Salgado said her post looks forward to the competitions as a way to test their mettle.

``They take them very seriously,'' Salgado said. Her Post No. 589 recently earned several first-place awards in a recent state competition in Coral Springs.

``It's like real-life scenarios,'' she said.

Being a part of a post takes a commitment, said Miami Beach officer Peter Socarras, who leads the department's Post No. 120. ``If you are interested in law enforcement, it's worth it,'' he said.

Socarras, who was an Explorer with Miami Beach before being hired, said teenagers in his program learn how to handle emergency situations -- like how to diffuse a robbery or keep people safe during a shootout.

``You learn what you need to do and know as a police officer way before you actually get hired,'' he said. ``There's nothing better than that.''

Calderon and other North Miami explorers usually help out at the city's monthly drunk-driving checkpoints, holding flashlights for officers and assisting them as they check for bleary eyes, slurred speech and other signs of impairment.

``It's a thrill ride every time,'' said Luis Gutierrez, 16, who watched as his advisor, North Miami Police officer Willie Walden, helped a woman who ticketed for having her child improperly restrained install a car seat.

``There is so much to learn,'' Luis said.

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