CTC II-06 Week one

[Random3]

Just a short update on the first week.
106 cadet showed up on Monday. 18 quit in the first 5 days so they are down to 91 cadets

They just had their first PT session today (Fri) and of 41 cadets in company A, only 5 were able to hang with the PT staff.

They are one week down with 26 to go so make sure you encourage your cadet to hang with it and stick it out to the end.


EDITED by dw for content.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Why do they take thier PT shirts?

[ChippieWife]

That sucks and unfortunately, I'm willing to bet that another handful won't return after the weekend.. Don't let them quit! They'll want to, but don't let them do it..Have them keep their eyes on the prize..It'll be worth it in the end :smile:

[Dipmo]

Why do they take thier PT shirts?

To steal a line from DW, "you'll find out when you get there." At least I'm pretty sure that's one of things he would want to retain the surprise value of.

I?m not an officer so I am nowhere near qualified to answer your question, but work out hard, real damn hard.

[shortys_91331]

... you have to earn those pt shirts. We can leave it at that

[redhead]

106 cadet showed up on Monday. 18 quit in the first 5 days so they are down to 91 cadets
Wait, are we down 18 or 15.

15=91
where as
18=88.

Either way, everyone, keep your heads up.


I just talked to someone tonight who knows of a cadet who has already "rung the bell". Heads hide and keep your eye on the goal.

[Mac]

Jeez Louise....18 non-hackers in the first week?!?!? What the heck are we recruiting nowadays???

[Random3]

There were 109 cadets that were supposed to show up, but only 106 actually did. One did not show up because they thought they did not have to report on memorial day so when they called his house, he was having a BBQ. Some just did not "know" that they would be yelled at at the academy and could not take it. Most did not not come prepared physically for the PT. Somehow, the background investigators have to get it though people's heads that things will be hard, or else the department will never catch up with attrition.

[SB 405]

A BBQ.....:lol: ......."Hey Bill, guy on the phone says he's calling from some Academy.... want's to know where you are".....Priceless.

[Wood19]

How do you get all that information so quickly? The background investigators do tell people they need to get in shape but it is really up to that individual to get in shape. If they really want the job than they would have prepaired themselves propperly. Heck when you go into backgrounds for the first time you have to sign papers that say the academy is physically demanding and sign the expectations they have for you as a potential employee. What else would you like them to do? Baby each candidate?

[Sheriff]

A BBQ.....:lol: ......."Hey Bill, guy on the phone says he's calling from some Academy.... want's to know where you are".....Priceless.

No kidding...did he/she not read the date on the acceptance letter? Very lame... :rolleyes:

[undertow999]

How do you get all that information so quickly? The background investigators do tell people they need to get in shape but it is really up to that individual to get in shape. If they really want the job than they would have prepaired themselves propperly. Heck when you go into backgrounds for the first time you have to sign papers that say the academy is physically demanding and sign the expectations they have for you as a potential employee. What else would you like them to do? Baby each candidate?

The BI make it very clear what is expected of you at the Academy. Eventhough I am done with the BI process, everytime I called my BI to let him know how my medical and psych were he ALWAYS said "you better be running, doing push-ups, sit-ups, etc." My BI has been very clear about what is expected of me. I think alot of people think that the BI are just saying these sorts of things to scare them, and that it will be easier then they say. Or, people just think they are better in shape then they actually are. Its just sad that so many people give up so fast. I have been in this process for over a year now and if I get accepted to the September Academy, there is no way in hell I am going to quit. I have come too far to quit because I didnt like how someone yelled at me. :smile:

[Nellie]

Here is the thing...

We are told about the hard things at the academy, but until we experience them, we really don't know. I was waiting in line for the OC spray with some anticipation, but seconds after I got nailed, I was wondering what the heck I was all excited about.

[ChippieWife]

[quote=Wood19] Its just sad that so many people give up so fast. I have been in this process for over a year now and if I get accepted to the September Academy, there is no way in hell I am going to quit. I have come too far to quit because I didnt like how someone yelled at me. :smile:

Too bad more people don't have that great attitude! It seems to me like some people are afraid of work...And if they are, then we certainly don't want them in Law Enforcement...I wish you the best of luck within these next couple months and hope you're there in September! Another thought..Though the BI may tell you what to expect as far as PT goes, do they tell you about all the hardcore mind games and in your face contact? My husband said it was similar to his USN bootcamp, but worse..Guys and gals with military experience will benefit greatly from it..

[G-Man]

Why do they take thier PT shirts?

i think that question is okay to answer...

your PT shirt says California Highway Patrol on the front and your name is bigger, you have to earn the right (through hard work in PT) to wear CHP on your shirt rather than having a plain white one with your name an inch high (dubbed "the mashmellow shirt" for obvious reasons). you have to come in to the academy in good shape to keep your shirt, and just because you kept it, doesn't mean they cannot take it away later if they want to.

if this isn't cool to post it'll be deleted, but it is not a huge secret.

[redhead]

There were 109 cadets that were supposed to show up, but only 106 actually did. Now the math makes sense.....didn't think that 3 wouldn't show up..........

[WannaBeaChippie]

That's really shocking that 3 people wouldn't show up...and that alot of cadets quit the first day...I would give all my precious possesions to take one of thier spots. But I guess when people feel like that the first day...imagine what it would be like to work with someone who quits when the going gets rough. I'm sorry though that really sucks, I guess its not made for everyone. :confused:

[SB 405]

A BBQ.....:lol: ......."Hey Bill, guy on the phone says he's calling from some Academy.... want's to know where you are".....Priceless.

No kidding...did he/she not read the date on the acceptance letter? Very lame... :rolleyes:

I'm suprised to hear you even get a phone call if you no show.

[HwyChaser]

Conditioning your body before going to the academy is great. However, I think conditioning your mind with the "I won?t quit no matter how difficult it gets" attitude is much more important. Fact is, the quitters have weak minds and no confidence in themselves. But HEY, that?s exactly why they yell and make cadets do crazy things. They are weeding out the weak.

The academy was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. But never did the thought of quitting cross my mind. Not even close.So, for those of you in the academy or plan on going soon; you had better start conditioning your mind.

[Mac]

Conditioning your body before going to the academy is great. However, I think conditioning your mind with the "I won?t quit no matter how difficult it gets" attitude is much more important....
Excellent point! No matter what kind of physical shape you get in before you go up there, PT staff will most likely still whup your butt - that's what they do, and very few can keep up with them stride for stride, push-up for push-up. It's much more important to show up with a "never say die" attitude - have it firmly in your mind that you're not going to quit NO MATTER WHAT! You will be pushed beyond your limits (or at least what you THINK your limits are) at the Academy - how you deal with that is what will determine whether you make it or not. Develop a warrior mindset - toughen yourself mentally as well as physically.

[CHP1]

Here's what i think!
The CHP academy is a lot like marriage. At first it seems like it is going to be fun, but once your in, you wish you were out! You do not live it until you experience it for your self. Someone telling you what the academy is all about is not the same thing as actually being there. So, if you feel like you are not ready don't do it. Have a nice day!:biggrin:

[pupdog]

Hope that mindset stuff works, because the PT staff will be eating me alive (and probably reading this right now & laughing!). VERY proud to say that thanks to PT fear, I recently took 2 minutes off my 5k time (something I've been working unsucessfully at until now for a few years), but I swear, the more pushups I do, the weaker the arms get. And I do a LOT.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Well I know this might sound a little wierd to you...but to strenghthen your upper body...you might want to try weight lifting. I do that, the reason is..sometimes when you do push-ups, youre lifting your own body weight. When you lift you condition your body to lift your max..that is whatever you weigh...thus making pushups easier. If you are doing a million pushups and still not getting better..maybe you should try weights. I like to do a burnout, meaning lifting my max weight, until I cant lift 5 pounds...try working with bars instead of machines also...or get with someone you know that might be able to assist you futher. It's also good to condition more than one area of muscle so when your main muscle gets to weak, your body can use others to help you out...hope it helps.

[pupdog]

Yeah, machines are awful. I did a year of weightlifting. I could do a LOT more weight on the machine than on free weights! and in the real world where cops work, things are not neatly stacked on a machine! I spent a year bench pressing my tail off, and added a whopping 5# in that time. I didn't get any closer to doing a chin-up, either, yet can lateral pulldown more than my weight (still nowhere close, and my final background interview is next week:shock: ). Also, when I used the machine, I would get a really nasty burning pain in one elbow that I don't get from anything else, telling me the machine is pretty un-natural.My current upper body program is 3 days a week, my alarm goes off every hour, and I stop what I'm doing & do pushups to failure. I used to do 30, now I'm thrilled with 10 (just being honest like a good little applicant). Yeah, tried the take a break overtraining thing...nada. I'm mentally tough & probably the most stubbourn person around. I just hope I'm stubbourn enough to keep with it!

[WannaBeaChippie]

Well I guess everyone is different...Im sure the PT instructors up there will be more than happy to work with you...I'm trying to get where you are--keep us all posted.;)

[CHP 44]

What is the big deal about keeping everything a secrect?? Why?? Does not make alot of since...I was in the Marine Corps and went through boot camp and watched shows on it and was prepared for it...Wouldn't make a lot of since (since the CHP is hurting for officers) to get everyone prepared BEFORE going to the academy?? Just my two cents....

[dw]

Here is the thing...

We are told about the hard things at the academy, but until we experience them, we really don't know. I was waiting in line for the OC spray with some anticipation, but seconds after I got nailed, I was wondering what the heck I was all excited about.



Let me just say I hate all people like you. OC knocked me on my ass for the rest of the night. I still have flashbacks. :shock:

[dw]

What is the big deal about keeping everything a secrect?? Why?? Does not make alot of since...I was in the Marine Corps and went through boot camp and watched shows on it and was prepared for it...Wouldn't make a lot of since (since the CHP is hurting for officers) to get everyone prepared BEFORE going to the academy?? Just my two cents....

Relatively few things are kept "secret" and I don't think those are make/break in the Academy process.

[CHP 44]

Then why is it that when someone post something on here about the acadmey is is edited and I have looked at some posts where the post was removed. I just think that it should not be a secret...It seems like the mods are editing posts that have "too much info"...If the cadets were prepared about everything BEFORE they go into the academy there would be less that would quit...Now I know there are some out there that can't handle the yelling...and for those go be an animal cop, but come on lets not go into something blind...I mean would you enter a house knowing there is someone in there with a gun and just walk in and say hey is there anyone in here?? And then get blasted?? I don't think so...You would want to be prepared for what ever was in there...I feel the same way about the academy...You do not want to go in blind! Just my thought!

[TheForceCHP]

But, we all know that the academy is safe.

I know for myself I like that everything isn't discussed on here. It leaves me wondering about all of the things that I will experience at the academy and I can't wait! I can understand your point and I do know one thing that is kept hush hush at the academy, but it is nothing bad, in fact I though it was sort of a cool thing. In the end if you really want the job then who cares if you don't know all of the little "secrets," as has been mentioned, it's not all about the academy it's about the career after the academy. Just my opinion though.

[dw]

Then why is it that when someone post something on here about the acadmey is is edited and I have looked at some posts where the post was removed. I just think that it should not be a secret...It seems like the mods are editing posts that have "too much info"...If the cadets were prepared about everything BEFORE they go into the academy there would be less that would quit...Now I know there are some out there that can't handle the yelling...and for those go be an animal cop, but come on lets not go into something blind...I mean would you enter a house knowing there is someone in there with a gun and just walk in and say hey is there anyone in here?? And then get blasted?? I don't think so...You would want to be prepared for what ever was in there...I feel the same way about the academy...You do not want to go in blind! Just my thought!

Call me old school, but I had to learn things when I got there; so should the next guy or girl. Don't know if you are in the application process, but I assure you (as has been posted by applicants recently) that those going to the Academy are told in no uncertain terms what they are getting into. Sure, a few things are not discussed. But those who have been through the Academy will tell you that even if they watched a seven month documentary of Academy life, they still don't know what it is like until living it. Maintaining a few surprises is not what makes or breaks a Cadet.

To use your analogy, keeping some surprises is excellent preparation for a career in law enforcement because your entire day is full of unforeseeable circumstances. Sure, you want to be prepared before you enter a residence, make a stop, whatever. The reality is we rarely have the fortune of knowing if someone has a gun or anything besides a vague description of the incident. If you can't handle a couple surprises in a controlled environment, how will you handle them on the road? Remember, everything is done (including maintaining confidentiality) for a purpose. During your career, you may or may not come to understand everything that was done in the application/training process.

[CHP 44]

Then why is it that when someone post something on here about the acadmey is is edited and I have looked at some posts where the post was removed. I just think that it should not be a secret...It seems like the mods are editing posts that have "too much info"...If the cadets were prepared about everything BEFORE they go into the academy there would be less that would quit...Now I know there are some out there that can't handle the yelling...and for those go be an animal cop, but come on lets not go into something blind...I mean would you enter a house knowing there is someone in there with a gun and just walk in and say hey is there anyone in here?? And then get blasted?? I don't think so...You would want to be prepared for what ever was in there...I feel the same way about the academy...You do not want to go in blind! Just my thought!

Call me old school, but I had to learn things when I got there; so should the next guy or girl. Don't know if you are in the application process, but I assure you (as has been posted by applicants recently) that those going to the Academy are told in no uncertain terms what they are getting into. Sure, a few things are not discussed. But those who have been through the Academy will tell you that even if they watched a seven month documentary of Academy life, they still don't know what it is like until living it. Maintaining a few surprises is not what makes or breaks a Cadet.

To use your analogy, keeping some surprises is excellent preparation for a career in law enforcement because your entire day is full of unforeseeable circumstances. Sure, you want to be prepared before you enter a residence, make a stop, whatever. The reality is we rarely have the fortune of knowing if someone has a gun or anything besides a vague description of the incident. If you can't handle a couple surprises in a controlled environment, how will you handle them on the road? Remember, everything is done (including maintaining confidentiality) for a purpose. During your career, you may or may not come to understand everything that was done in the application/training process.

Very well stated...I respect that post very much...Thanks!...I was in the process, but decided to take my self out due to family issues (my daughter) and I was going to go the May 29th class, but due to family issues decided that it is best for my family to stay in VA...But I respect your post 100%! Thanks again!

[WannaBeaChippie]

Did I ask the wrong question...? Forget it..I'm only coming on here to ask Hiring Process Questions Only...sorry if I caused any trouble.

[PeckerHead]

Seems to me the stuff the Administrator removes from the Forum is more about personal information than actual Academy goings on. There really isn't anything secret that goes on at the Academy other than policy that is restricted. It certainly isn't worth getting worked up over. Just remember, this is called the world wide web for a reason. For example, while looking up this forum tonight I found a link to the news article regarding the recent death of a certain Officer in his Ferrari. Guess where I found it? On a page about canibus! The last thing you want is the guy you arrested this morning, driving by your house tonight because he tracked you down on the internet. And if you don't think it's possible, do a Google search on your name, address and phone number. I realize when you a Cadet or a new Officer, it's all fun and your so proud of your new career, but it's not wise to advertise your profession on your car or your attire. Think about how your going to react when confronted by an irate or impaired stranger when youre in public with your wife and kids. :shock:

[TheForceCHP]

My old BI happened to be going to the dentist in the same building that my mom works in so she stopped by and talked to her today. My mom said that she commented that so far that around 22 have dropped out. Such a waste

[CHPGuy]

Back to the last post "dw" made. You said something about a Seven Month Acadamy Video? Is that the CHP Acadamy? Where can I see that video or rent it? I am an Explorer out of Newhall. Does the PAO have a copy of it?

[dw]

Back to the last post "dw" made. You said something about a Seven Month Acadamy Video? Is that the CHP Acadamy? Where can I see that video or rent it? I am an Explorer out of Newhall. Does the PAO have a copy of it?

It was a hypothetical.... IF someone could watch a seven-month video of Academy life, it still would not fully prepare them for the reality.

[CHPGuy]

Ya, that was the Joke!!!

[dw]

Back to the last post "dw" made. You said something about a Seven Month Acadamy Video? Is that the CHP Acadamy? Where can I see that video or rent it? I am an Explorer out of Newhall. Does the PAO have a copy of it? ;)

Insert smiley as shown above. :cool:

[CHPGuy]

Truly sorry Sir, I do appologize. :rolleyes: