To the Academy staff...

[TheForceCHP]

Well after certain things that have been talked about lately I decided address some issues.

The other day I was on my way to the Academy to check out the PX since I was in the area(visiting family). I called my BI to see if she wanted anything from the PX, she did but stuff I can't buy, and she tells me that soon to be cadets are not supposed to go to the Academy. This really shocked me as I had been told before that maybe it wasn't the best idea, they don't want you scoping out the Academy right before you go etc..., but had never been told that we couldn't. Needless to say I talked to my BI for a long time, she is a super nice officer that is great to talk to, in the end I obviously don't go pick up her stuff. After the conversation and everything I started thinking about a lot of things from the "Sept. 18th Academy is a GO!!!" topic and decided to change a little of what has been said. I talked to Dipmo about it and we both agreed that it would be a good idea.

In the previous topic it was talked about not meeting up at Starbucks and having a meeting spot the night before that was kept secret from the staff, along with other items. The ideas where started from officers and other people that had good intentions and I took the advice at face value and was putting them in motion.

After the conversation with my BI and re-reading old posts I sat back and though about what was being talked about. This is when I contacted Dipmo to see what he thought about it. Mind you things where in place to have off-site discussions and everything. In the end we decided that they weren't the best ideas and we shouldn't be looking at things the way we have been. I realized that we weren't even at the academy yet and we where thinking about hiding information from the staff! Once I realized this I immediately remembered something that I, along with all cadets going through the academy, will be seeing a lot of...
Cadets do not lie, cheat or steal, nor do they tolerate those who do.
This says it all for me. I don't see us setting up meetings before the academy as wrong, the orientation the week before the Academy is partially so that we can meet other cadets, but I do feel guilty about trying to hide it. Whether I should feel this way or not I don't know, but I do.

If anybody else wants to set up off-site groups and such then that is your right, but I think that we need to be responsible and not do it. We all know that the staff looks at this site, I completely understand why they do and think that it is a good idea, and I don't know how often they do or if they will ever see this post, but I wanted how I felt to be out in the open as I apologize for trying to hide information from the Academy staff. This site has so much to offer and I don't want to give it a bad name by having the staff see this site as bad. I still plan on setting up a meeting the Sunday night before we report, but that meeting location will be posted for all to see and the staff will be invited to come. I will not try and hide something from them nor condone others doing it either.

All of the above is my opinion, I hope Dipmo agrees with what I posted about what we talked about, and DW had no idea that I was planning this so I hope nobody minds that I spoke my mind. Thank you.

[Dipmo]

Well after certain things that have been talked about lately I decided address some issues.

The other day I was on my way to the Academy to check out the PX since I was in the area(visiting family). I called my BI to see if she wanted anything from the PX, she did but stuff I can't buy, and she tells me that soon to be cadets are not supposed to go to the Academy. This really shocked me as I had been told before that maybe it wasn't the best idea, they don't want you scoping out the Academy right before you go etc..., but had never been told that we couldn't. Needless to say I talked to my BI for a long time, she is a super nice officer that is great to talk to, in the end I obviously don't go pick up her stuff. After the conversation and everything I started thinking about a lot of things from the "Sept. 18th Academy is a GO!!!" topic and decided to change a little of what has been said. I talked to Dipmo about it and we both agreed that it would be a good idea.

In the previous topic it was talked about not meeting up at Starbucks and having a meeting spot the night before that was kept secret from the staff, along with other items. The ideas where started from officers and other people that had good intentions and I took the advice at face value and was putting them in motion.

After the conversation with my BI and re-reading old posts I sat back and though about what was being talked about. This is when I contacted Dipmo to see what he thought about it. Mind you things where in place to have off-site discussions and everything. In the end we decided that they weren't the best ideas and we shouldn't be looking at things the way we have been. I realized that we weren't even at the academy yet and we where thinking about hiding information from the staff! Once I realized this I immediately remembered something that I, along with all cadets going through the academy, will be seeing a lot of...
Cadets do not lie, cheat or steal, nor do they tolerate those who do.
This says it all for me. I don't see us setting up meetings before the academy as wrong, the orientation the week before the Academy is partially so that we can meet other cadets, but I do feel guilty about trying to hide it. Whether I should feel this way or not I don't know, but I do.

If anybody else wants to set up off-site groups and such then that is your right, but I think that we need to be responsible and not do it. We all know that the staff looks at this site, I completely understand why they do and think that it is a good idea, and I don't know how often they do or if they will ever see this post, but I wanted how I felt to be out in the open as I apologize for trying to hide information from the Academy staff. This site has so much to offer and I don't want to give it a bad name by having the staff see this site as bad. I still plan on setting up a meeting the Sunday night before we report, but that meeting location will be posted for all to see and the staff will be invited to come. I will not try and hide something from them nor condone others doing it either.

All of the above is my opinion, I hope Dipmo agrees with what I posted about what we talked about, and DW had no idea that I was planning this so I hope nobody minds that I spoke my mind. Thank you.

Thanks for posting that Force. I?m looking forward to meeting some classmates the night before. It?ll beat sitting in my hotel room, watching TV, and stressing out. This way I?ll be able to stress out with other people for a little bit. Be advised that I?ll be turning into an insomniac pumpkin at 2100 that night.

[HwyChaser]

A lot of cadets stay at the Harbor Inn the night before the academy. I showed up at the Harbor Inn the night before, and could immediately tell who was a cadet. We all had that same blank stare and short hair. Anyway, about a dozen of us sat around the swimming pool for several hours and freaked each other out with academy stories we had heard. You guys should meet at the same hotel. There is nothing wrong with meeting folks the night before the academy.

[TheForceCHP]

A lot of cadets stay at the Harbor Inn the night before the academy. I showed up at the Harbor Inn the night before, and could immediately tell who was a cadet. We all had that same blank stare and short hair. Anyway, about a dozen of us sat around the swimming pool for several hours and freaked each other out with academy stories we had heard. You guys should meet at the same hotel. There is nothing wrong with meeting folks the night before the academy.

Thanks. Looks like I might be staying there then since you recommended it. Maybe some of the other guys on the site will got there also.

[23109]

I'd highly recommend meeting up with some other cadets that are reporting. Start your bonding now.

[Darth Choke]

Don't forget McDonalds the morning of pickup!! ;)

Although, w/ the new Bucks built, that would be a good place too before going over to Academy.

[brewdog21]

I think you are all absolutly crazy for even posting anything on this web-site prior to even being an Officer. You'r freakin crazy. Trust me, I know that when I went through the academy a couple years ago, it was made clear to stay far away from here. It will be made clear on day 1 that it was a very big mistake. And just some advise, DON'T HAVE AN OPEN INVITE FOR FUTURE CADETS AND THE STAFF TO MEET PRIOR TO THE ACADEMY!!! LOL. This is not Beverly Hills 90210, it's your potential future career if you are among the 68% that can hack the CHP academy. Once again, you are making life much harder than you need to on yourself and your furture classmates, trust me, you'll thank me later. Anyone else want to shed some light on these folks.

[TheForceCHP]

I think you are all absolutly crazy for even posting anything on this web-site prior to even being an Officer. You'r freakin crazy. Trust me, I know that when I went through the academy a couple years ago, it was made clear to stay far away from here. It will be made clear on day 1 that it was a very big mistake. And just some advise, DON'T HAVE AN OPEN INVITE FOR FUTURE CADETS AND THE STAFF TO MEET PRIOR TO THE ACADEMY!!! LOL. This is not Beverly Hills 90210, it's your potential future career if you are among the 68% that can hack the CHP academy. Once again, you are making life much harder than you need to on yourself and your furture classmates, trust me, you'll thank me later. Anyone else want to shed some light on these folks.

And what might you say I do with the nearly 400 posts that I have already done? I am thankful for what this site has to offer and don't regret being a part of it. The only thing that I regret is taking the advice of others about keeping stuff from the staff. Luckily I realized that this was a bad idea before we started to do it, thus the purpose of this topic. Anybody who reads this topic will see that I am an upstanding person and realized some bad moves where going to be made, I recognized that and am not afraid to own up to them. I will never feel guilty about being an honest person, it is who I am and I only hope that you can recognize this as the reason that I posted all of this out in the open.

We all make mistakes in our lives, the questions is can you recognize and learn from them even if what becomes of them is not pleasant? I know that I can.

[Officer_Grady]

after 100 posts, you should learn, after 200 posts, you should learn. I still don't know what you even called your background officer and asked if she needed anything. Seems like you proved her wrong.

[TheForceCHP]

after 100 posts, you should learn, after 200 posts, you should learn. I still don't know what you even called your background officer and asked if she needed anything. Seems like you proved her wrong.

Proved her wrong... as in she shouldn't have recommended me? No I think not. 100, 200, 300 posts, they where me asking questions about the CHP and helping others get their questions answered also. Shows that I know what I am getting myself into, I guarentee I won't be one of those cadets who drops out because they didn't know what they where getting themselves into, nor will I drop out ever.

I will finish up by saying that I am going to try and stop posting all together. Might as well get used to it as in Sept. I am going to not post for six months+. No big deal to me, this site is a tool to help people during the application process. Once I am in the academy I won't be having questions as much as I will be living the answers.

[Dipmo]

First and foremost thank you to the officers that have offered advice to us, it is not unnoticed that you took time to offer us assistance when you didn?t have to.

There is however too much conflicting advice on this subject, so I will not be attending any organized pre academy meeting that is planned in this, or any other site. If I happen to bump into some future cadets in my travels the night before, great, it would be fun to chat and create bonds before reporting. I will eat breakfast at a location near the academy the morning of, and I?m sure I?ll meet more folks there and we?ll probably chat to break the nervous tension.

If there is a piper to pay for my previous posts to this site, then that piper I shall pay. I?ll take my lumps, learn from the experience, and I?ll move on.

I believe this site offers a tremendous learning opportunity and the time has come for the me to read posts rather than make them, so this will be my last post until such a time as I have a question to help me prepare for the academy, or I graduate from the academy. Good luck to everyone reporting in September, work hard before you get there, stay motivated and excited, and don?t even think of quitting.

Out.

[Tiredmotor]

I, for one, think that it is OK for you guys (future cadets) to not only read and post from this site....but to get together prior to the Academy starting. I'm not sure what the naysayers have against it but I say the more info the better. Just my .02 cents.

[DESERT RAT]

Pick up day...."alright nasties, who here posts on CHPforums.com?" 5 hands will go up. "Which one of you nasties are DIPMO, THEFORCECHP?" As you stare at the sign that reads "Chp cadets do not lie, steal, or cheat nor do they tolerate those who do." You will raise your hand. "Real good crazy", now go up to the staff office, we need to know what you were gonna hide from us... :idea:

:shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops: :shock:ops:

Im just messing with you.

The example above could never, ever, happend! Im 99% sure of it.:biggrin:

[Mac]

IMO, this whole thing is a tempest in a teacup. There's nothing wrong or subversive about wanting to meet the night before, or the morning of, your reporting date. If you guys want to hook up at the Starbucks or wherever, do it.....the Academy staff has their hands full with preparing for the new class and taking care of the class that's already there, so I sincerely doubt they're going to expend the time or effort to send out "infiltrators" to hunt you down off-grounds....they'll have plenty of time to "get to know you" in the next 26 weeks! You're calling a lot more attention to yourself with all the flag-waving and hand-wringing in 3 or 4 threads about this whole issue than if you had just simply organized your get-together and done it.

Meet up the night before and have freakin' dinner....share your anxieties and nervousness, encourage each other, make a pact that nobody goes home unless they're dragged out the door screaming and kicking. Meet up at Scarbutt's the morning of and have a freakin' cup - laugh about how all of your guts are in a knot and your sphincters are so tight that you couldn't crap a strand of spaghetti! As long as you're not plotting a coup or scheming to overthrow the Academy, you've got nothing to feel guilty about. Will you get crap at the Academy about posting here? Probably....but you'll get crap at the Academy even if you've never posted a single word on this board - getting yelled at and facing stiff discipline is part of the Academy. It's been that way since LONG before Al Gore invented the internet (sarcasm intended), and (hopefully) always will be that way. There are good reasons for it, and we've all been through it.

Threads such as this clearly illustrate the good and the bad of the internet.....the good is that you, as applicants and potential Cadets, have access to FAR more information about the Department and the Academy than any generation before has ever had, and are able to network, ask questions and prepare yourself in an unprecedented manner. The bad side of it is that you have access to FAR more information about the Department and the Academy than any generation before has ever had....yet some people still get "huffy" when somebody refuses to divulge EVERYTHING about the Academy, telling you that you'll find out when you get there. It was ALL a surprise to those of us who didn't have this kind of resource at our fingertips before we walked in there with our luggage on the first day, and there are certain things that most officers would prefer that you find out for yourself, rather than having it all neatly laid out for you on a fine platter with a silver spoon next to it.

Nobody here wishes you any ill will - we need more officers, are happy that you've made it even THIS far in the process, and are happy to help you along toward your goal of joining our ranks....but at the same time, we (or at least *I*, since I can't speak for everybody) feel that you should have to face the unknown to at least some degree, as all Cadets before you have....it's part of the experience. Pinning that badge to your chest on graduation day signifies that you have become one of the elite.... you're now a CHP Officer, which is an accomplishment that a very, VERY small percentage of applicants ultimately attain. For those of you who listen to country music, Montgomery Gentry has a verse in one of their songs that describes the feeling very well:

"That's somethin' to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on.
That's a chin held high as a tear falls down,
Gut sucked in, chest stuck out."

[TheForceCHP]

First and foremost thank you to the officers that have offered advice to us, it is not unnoticed that you took time to offer us assistance when you didn?t have to.

There is however too much conflicting advice on this subject, so I will not be attending any organized pre academy meeting that is planned in this, or any other site. If I happen to bump into some future cadets in my travels the night before, great, it would be fun to chat and create bonds before reporting. I will eat breakfast at a location near the academy the morning of, and I?m sure I?ll meet more folks there and we?ll probably chat to break the nervous tension.

If there is a piper to pay for my previous posts to this site, then that piper I shall pay. I?ll take my lumps, learn from the experience, and I?ll move on.

I believe this site offers a tremendous learning opportunity and the time has come for the me to read posts rather than make them, so this will be my last post until such a time as I have a question to help me prepare for the academy, or I graduate from the academy. Good luck to everyone reporting in September, work hard before you get there, stay motivated and excited, and don?t even think of quitting.

Out.


I couldn't have said it better.

Thanks to all who have helped me and thank you for the last couple of posts.

I am also out.

[brewdog21]

I was not trying to be rude or nosy, just shedding my advice. I agree, we do need more good Officers on the road so good luck to all. Hope to see you soon.

[pupdog]

WOW, Force. Talk about calling attention to yourself, the last thing a cadet wants to do (I say that well aware that if I'm fortunate enough to go in september, the PT staff is eager to meet 'Pupdog' and wipe the floor with her! No secret about who I am guys...the redhead female who desprately wants to run faster & do a pullup.)

Mac, I've always loved your posts, but that one put SUCH a grin on my face. I'll be thinking of you when I'm (hopefully) there.

This website is an incredible resource, and I'm greatful. From an applicant pov, I feel that dw has gone above & beyond to 'improve department efficency' when it comes to the hiring process by creating this tool.

Bach to my pushups (ralf!)