THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HIDDEN CURRICULUM IN THE TRAINING OF MILITARY POLICE OFFICERS IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT

Abstract

The text addresses the complexity of military police training in Brazil, highlighting the need to develop cognitive, operative, and attitudinal competencies for the preservation of public order. Focusing on the Enlisted Training Course of the Federal District Military Police (PMDF), the research used a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with commanders, to investigate the importance of the "hidden curriculum"—informal practices, rituals, and routines not included in the official syllabus—in the transition from civilian to military identity and the emotional conditioning of the students. The results reveal a strong consensus among most officers that the hidden curriculum is indispensable for forging essential professional attributes, such as toughness, discipline, camaraderie, and stress resilience. However, there are important caveats regarding the risks of excessive informality, pointing out that these empirical practices require oversight, legal backing, and institutional psychological support so they do not undermine formal technical learning or compromise the mental health of the trainees.