The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) will graduate Basic Academy Class (BAC) 61 on Thursday, Jan. 22, which will include a unique milestone: a married couple completing the academy together.
Deputy Sheriff Recruits Aaliyah and Jared Giel, both U.S. Marine Corps veterans, will graduate side-by-side Thursday at the Law Enforcement Training Academy, officially becoming certified VBSO deputies.
“Basic Academy Class 61 represents the very best of what we look for in a Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office deputy: commitment, resilience and a genuine desire to serve others,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “Seeing a married couple graduate together, both with prior Marine Corps service, speaks volumes about the strength of character and teamwork this profession demands. Aaliyah and Jared Giel exemplify what it means to serve with honor, first to our country, and now to our community, and the family spirit of the VBSO. We are proud to welcome the entire Basic Academy Class 61 to the VBSO family.”
Aaliyah Giel, 23, and Jared Giel, 22, served four years each in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2021-2025. Aaliyah is originally from Guyana and later Georgia. Jared is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple met while serving in the military in Indian Head, Maryland.
“Graduating together as a married couple is deeply meaningful to us,” the Giels said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to reflect on the journey we’ve shared and to recognize that we both accomplished something that once felt impossible. We are proud to officially earn the title of deputy and are deeply honored to serve the city of Virginia Beach.”
The couple said their shared military background helped prepare them for the physical, mental and academic demands of the VBSO Basic Academy and reinforced the importance of teamwork, communication and resilience throughout training.
U.S. military veterans are a core component of the VBSO workforce, comprising approximately 30% of sworn positions. The VBSO is Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified and a participant in the Department of War SkillBridge program.
The VBSO Basic Academy training spans 80 classes and 500 hours over 17 weeks, covering Virginia law, arrest procedures, ethics, cultural diversity, firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, first aid, crisis intervention (mental health) and more. The graduates also complete rigorous physical fitness training and courses on the VBSO’s core operations: Corrections, Court Transportation and Security, and Civil Process. They must successfully meet all Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) requirements to graduate and earn their Basic Jailer, Court Security and Civil Process certifications.
The BAC 61 deputies will be assigned to the Virginia Beach Correctional Center, joining the ranks of the VBSO’s 400 sworn deputy sheriffs.
The starting salary for deputy recruits is $54,766.40, which increases to $57,504.72 after graduation from the Basic Academy, plus benefits. The VBSO is hiring for both sworn and civilian positions. The next testing date for sworn applicants is Jan. 24. Information on how to become a Virginia Beach deputy sheriff is available at vbso.net/sworn-positions .
The BAC 61 graduation ceremony will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Law Enforcement Training Academy located at 411 Integrity Way. It will be live-streamed on VB Channel 48 and Facebook at facebook.com/vbsheriffsoffice . Members of the news media are invited to attend.
Media contact: Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net , 757-385-8446 or 757-373-5012.