Week One - CTC - IV-05

[graver]

Nellie, wait until the PT staff finds out what you've been posting on here

[Nellie]

Whew! I made it through week one. It was pretty taxing. The very first night, I had this MASSIVE migraine with nausia. I was a little disoriented and dizzy. It felt like my head was going to explode.

I met a couple of cadets who post to this forum. My mentor from the senior class asked me if I was "Nellie."

This is all I have to say. I'll give another un-informative update next week! :lol:

[14596]

good luck!

[CTC III-05]

Congrats on making it through your first week.

[Welpe]

Cool deal! Keep it up and don't post anything bad on the forum. :lol:

[SB 405]

Oh no...they already know Nellie posts on this forum,now we'll never hear the "good stuff" about what's going on.:lol:

[Dipmo]

I get the feeling he won't see it as "good stuff" until he has been finished for a while.

I have some quick demographic questions for Nellie. I remember you telling us that you are 36; does that make you the oldest cadet in the class? If it does, does it work to you advantage that you can use your life experience to get you through the tough moments.

Also, what is the average age of the cadets in your class? I keep having this thought that at around 31 I?ll be an old man if I am fortunate enough to attend the academy at some point.

I understand you might be slightly, uh... busy these days so I will understand if there is no answer to this for oh say, 6 months or so.

Lastly, way to get ?er done! Now rinse and repeat 26 times. And remember, pain is temporary :biggrin:

[ResQ]

Nellie, you are super-dedicated...you must have logged on right when you got home...you beat me!

I ended up being "quad-mates" with Nellie. Just as advertised there are 4 rooms to a quad sharing one bathroom with 2 showers, 2 sinks and 2 heads. So Nellie lives in one of the other rooms in our 4. It was great to meet someone here and e-mail a little and then have someone that you "knew" a little bit when you rolled in on the first few days.

I wish I could go into every minute detail but I dont have enough time...lots of studying and preparing for week two is preventing me from being on here for more than a few minutes. So to summarize for those that may be in the next class...

The SOP that you get from your BI is the "bible" of the Acacdemy (as if you didn't know that)...but I really mean it is the bible, and if you think about the real bible and how the Israelites didn't want to heed the word, think about what happened to them! EXILE baby...so you had better Read and Heed! I know it is hard to apply some of the stuff since you have no idea what it relates to and where the things are that it refers to, but there is enough in there to memorize before you get in place to assist you in you efforts.

Other than that...hmmm...I dunno?! It was just like all of the old heads here told us it was going to be. We arrived, were greeted by the training staff who escorted us to the supply pick up area, got us in processed, and showed us to our rooms where we put on our uniforms in accordance with the SOP. After that we got a tour of the facilities and met some of the Chain of Command who explained their expectations to us. We filled out all of the necessary "forms" to start our state employment and then got right into instruction on customs and courtesies...criminal law...ethics...(you know POST stuff). We have been learning how to march (if you don't already) and how to interact with staff and our "senior" cadets to learn the ropes. Chow is AWESOME...I am not being sarcastic. The dining facility is the single best cafeteria I have ever eaten in! Great food, extremely efficient! Those folks are world class. We got to PT a couple times this week. Pretty standard stuff really. Push ups, sit ups, pull ups, a short run. All in accordance with the rules of the gym and under staff instruction to prevent injury. They are really sharp at the gym. They taught us how to do the exercises properly and provided "mats" for us to work-out on to prevent injuries. The mats are stored in the gym and when we go in each day, we get a mat and place it at our assigned spot before we begin our workout. Very professional bunch of PT staff. They are knowledgeable and in-shape...great motivators! So make sure you are in shape so you can get the full benefit of their expertise.

I guess if I was going to give any advise about the program, I would have to say this; If you are SERIOUS about being a patrol-person with CHP...LIVE IT. I mean eat sleep breath CHP. If you don't you will have some difficulty. If you are in doubt about your decision...go on another ride along (which I still haven't done :shock:ops: ) and think hard about it. Since this is a very structured environment you will be "indoctrinated" in the purest sense of the word and the "behavior-model" of control, dependency, compliance and cooperation will be utilized to set you on a path for success utilizing "BF Skinner" style philosophy. If you are even thinking about NOT doing the job, your motivations will be exposed immediately through this process. We lost 10 so far...week ONE.

Good luck to those that continue to pursue...see you in a few months!

oh and to all you old heads....it IS uphill everywhere we go!? I forgot that was possible ;)

[lomotor]

Great posting ResQ.

Life at the academy is certainly different than that of everyday living. They OWN you while you are there. The whole academy is about time management. Time to polish your boots, brass, get your books in order for next days classes, ironing your uniform and all that stuff. Great to hear that you made it through your first week. How many started in your class?? And wow 10 in the first week huh!!

You are cartainly right in sayin that you must live, sleep, and breath CHP. I waited a year and 10 months and 13 days to get my spot in the academy. I wasn't going to let some guy yelling at me deter me from getting my badge.

Just a word to those waiting to get into the academy. I got to see a graduation ceremony before I got to the academy. It's such a great insperation. I knew that this is what I wanted to do and seeing those guys walk across the stage and get their badges was awesome. I knew that I wasn't going to quit till I got mine!!! And right you are that it is up hill all the time, but it's only for six months of your 30 year career!!

[ResQ]

Lomotor,

we started with 90...had one ?! NO-SHOW :rolleyes: and then 10 drop-on-requests...so we are 79 strong...I think there will be a few more 'goners' after this weekend when they get plugged back into the X-Box, Pepsi, and sleeping on their bean bags... don't study a lick and then remember we have PT at 0500 Monday! :smile:

[SB 405]

Nellie, wait until the PT staff finds out what you've been posting on here What, because the guys first post academy comment is he suffers from migraines and he met a couple of other cadets?

[K-Lo]

It has been awhile since I have been on here. Last I heard you were scheduled for the academy now you're there. Cool!!

Congrats on making it through your first week Nellie. I am looking forward to reading your subsequent posts about Academy life.

[ResQ]

Dipmo,

the average age is around 30-ish. There are plenty of over 30. The oldest is 36, 37 in a month or so. The youngest is 20! 21 in a few months. There is very little advantage to age. I am 31 and that didn't make any difference. The only difference is dedication and possibly having experienced something similar in the past...like basic training, being in prison, past torture, etc ;)

refer to the above post from me. If you TRULY want to be CHP, you gotta live it everyday for a while prior to arriving...meaning study your SOP from you final BI interview, go on ride-alongs, listen to a scanner, read reports of police activites, etc. I am not sure what you experience is...or age... Even the younger troops there are doing fine as long as they keep their ears open and mouths shut. You will be taught everything you need to know by the staff. Top notch experienced trainers are in place to ensure your success or open your mind to your inabilites. If you confront your inabilities earnestly and work to overcome them you will be fine...if you resist change and don't want to be indoctrinated, you will lose (and then go home).

[Welpe]

Res-Q thanks for the updates, they are appreciated. I know your time is precious this weekend so I'll keep this short. How many 20-25 year olds would you say are there?

Thanks and good luck in Week 2!

[ResQ]

probably 20 or so...my roomie is about 25. They are doing fine...don't let the age thing scare you. It is all about personal maturity. Have you "been around" a little? Had some life expereince? or still watching SouthPark and playing X-Box living in mom and dads basement...or have you been working and going to school...

I think you will do fine. Ears...Open! Eyes...Click! listen and learn :smile:

[DESERT RAT]

Hey, ResQ! How many days a week are you doing PT? I heard they were trying to go to 5 days a week. Oh and say Hi to the PT staff for me! No rings, No watches!

[bcjack]

Hang in there Nellie and ResQPilot!!!! Be strong and good luck!!!!!!!!!

[Nellie]

Nellie, wait until the PT staff finds out what you've been posting on here What, because the guys first post academy comment is he suffers from migraines and he met a couple of other cadets?

I think graver was referring to my pre-Academy posts.

[ResQ]

Desert Rat...whaddaya mean how many days are we doing PT.....! Every day that we are told to! :smile:

I think it will be five starting soon, but hey..I just work there?!

[16528]

Congrats to both of you; week one is done.. I was in your shoes 5 years ago today (CTC IV-00) and just keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Just remember, the Academy is nothing like working the road.

[Lucky Seven]

16528,


I like your avatar. Can you check with DW and see if he will let you load it on the site so we can load it as our avatar in memory of Andy?

[25/31]

Whew! I made it through week one. It was pretty taxing. The very first night, I had this MASSIVE migraine with nausia. I was a little disoriented and dizzy. It felt like my head was going to explode.

I met a couple of cadets who post to this forum. My mentor from the senior class asked me if I was "Nellie."

This is all I have to say. I'll give another un-informative update next week! :lol:


Hey guys just FYI - be aware that the staff office will know what you post on here..... you may want to 10-22 for a while....just my $.02

[Lucky Seven]

Whew! I made it through week one. It was pretty taxing. The very first night, I had this MASSIVE migraine with nausia. I was a little disoriented and dizzy. It felt like my head was going to explode.

I met a couple of cadets who post to this forum. My mentor from the senior class asked me if I was "Nellie."

This is all I have to say. I'll give another un-informative update next week! :lol:


Hey guys just FYI - be aware that the staff office will know what you post on here..... you may want to 10-22 for a while....just my $.02


They probably won't get in trouble for posting unless they give up the secret hand shake. :shock:

[dw]

16528,


I like your avatar. Can you check with DW and see if he will let you load it on the site so we can load it as our avatar in memory of Andy?



Should be up soon... Just created one and sent it to the provider. I'll have to work on the Avatar collection later in the week. I'm going to rescale all the existing ones to 100px. If you have anything to add, now is the time to send it to me.

[16528]

16528,


I like your avatar. Can you check with DW and see if he will let you load it on the site so we can load it as our avatar in memory of Andy?



I like yours too. Do you fly rotors?