Would appreciate some advice from the professionals

[NavytoCHP]

Good afternoon,

I first want to say what a privilege it is to be in the hiring process of the CHP. I am currently on active duty with the U.S. Navy. I tested in 2005 and made it all the way up to receiving a letter for conditional hire. I actually flew out to San Diego at the time from Tampa to start my process.

I had passed my physical and written exams in 1999, but only rcvd a 90 from my oral interview and they were only taking candidates that rcvd a 95 at the time. So I waited a couple of years and found out there was a hiring freeze on, so I waited another couple of years and actually tested at age 35, whew, just made it age wise. Was a part of the weekend testing in San Diego. Passed everything all the way up to my oral exam for which I rcvd a 95. Rcvd a letter for conditional offer for employment but wanted to stay active duty at the time and was told I could apply for a waiver, so I sent it in and 3 years later here I am.

I just reactivated my file and sent in my Personal Statement History last week for my background check and am now in the waiting process for my BI to call me to get the ball rolling.

My background in the Navy - I'm a Chief Petty Officer (with over 20 years of experience) responsible for the lives of over 20 Sailors, ranging in age from 19 to 30. I've deployed on two aircraft carriers for over six months at a time (deployed for 6 months for a total of 8 times around the world).

Once I receive the call to fly out to California for the rest of my testing, I plan on scheduling a ride-along as well.

My question to all the CHP Officers out there is, with my over 20 years of experience in the Navy, how much of it will help me going through the academy, and ultimately in the field as an officer.

Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to give you some background on myself. Thank you for your help in advance. With very much respect...

[Eagl5]

It will help you in the Academy over a college only or no college no military Applicant because you are used to the military style of following orders and doing what you are told. Doing PT should be not be that big a problem becuase I assume the Navy does, although I never saw that when I was in the Corps:wink:, except for our corpsman. As far as helping you on the road, I don't know how much it would. I mean I'm sure my Marine background helped some, alot of road work is learning what you were taught in the Academy and on FTO and not overthinking any of it. So overall it will help you more than its gonna hurt you. Good luck.

[Chippysgt]

Upper limit for CHP is 35 years old. How do you get 20 years of experience in the Navy and still meet the age requirment?? Last time I checked you had to be at least 17 to get in the Navy. Maybe you are counting Sea Cadet time??

Anyway, best of luck to you. I am always behind veterans coming on board.

[TheForceCHP]

Upper limit for CHP is 35 years old. How do you get 20 years of experience in the Navy and still meet the age requirment?? Last time I checked you had to be at least 17 to get in the Navy. Maybe you are counting Sea Cadet time??

Anyway, best of luck to you. I am always behind veterans coming on board.

Because he was in the process before the 35 plus he was military he is ok ( I don't know what the exact requirements are)

Navy - Take car of your body. In my class we had a former Marine, he was 39 and actually turned 40 during the academy. He did well in the beginning, but I THINK it was around week 10 or so that he had to drop out. His body just couldn't take it anymore and he couldn't proceed. It was sad to see him go, but it is a reality

[HIPCHIP]

The military will help you understand the chain of command and the quasi-military structure of the CHP. The fact that you are a supervisor may get you in trouble in the Academy if you can't separate the old you from the new you. With your age and experience you may be a little "Salty" with a group of younger officers telling you what to do, so you will need to make sure you put your mindset back to "square one" both during the Academy and throughout your first year on the job.

When I went through the Academy 30 years a go, the average cadet was mid-20's, married, was a vet, had a family, and the dept liked that as the person was older and more settled, so in that respect your age and training will be a benefit.

If you are used to running things smoothly when all hell is breaking lose, that will definitely help you in the Academy and on the road. When you decide to promote, being that you were a supervisor in the military will probably look good and help you.

Now the main thing is learning how to study and doing it until you have everything remembered, so going home and taking care of the family on the weekends my have to be put on hold a little. You'll also need to make sure you are in good physical condition, and that will take a lot. You will need to push yourself to get out of bed at 0400 or so and be at the gym even on days when it's not required, so being in a military mindset will definitely help.

So, to sum it up, you're not young and stupid, which can be a problem. Imagine an E-1 coming into your squad who was in his late 30's and had a ton of experience. Don't be that guy!!:doh::noidea:

Have fun and enjoy. It's worth it!
Dan'o :}

[NavytoCHP]

Thank you all for your honest and candid answers. I understand about the experience thing and not letting it get in the way. Am currently working out at the gym so I plan to be prepared in that way as well.

Thanks again to everyone that has responded! Your support and advice is greatly appreciated.

[HIPCHIP]

Just an FYI, I know it's probably a little different now, but not much. If I remember correctly, we did an hour of calisthenics in the gym, then ran for about an hour every day. I wasn't exactly fat when I started the Academy, and I lost 15-20 lbs while there, and that was while eating like a pig.

6 count burpies, leg lifts, push-ups, sit-ups, chins/pull-ups, running in place, etc, etc. The run started out like a 1/4 mile and by the end of the Academy we were doing 5 miles.

There's also an obstacle course, non-stop soccer (you can't be standing, you have to keep running), some swimming. Stuff like that.

They give you time to get into shape, but you need to be in pretty good condition when you start. Your body needs to be in good shape when you start so you don't suffer from injuries, like shin splints, sprains, etc.

If you'd like more info feel free to ask.
Dan'o :}

[mmachp]

They give you time to get into shape, but you need to be in pretty good condition when you start. Your body needs to be in good shape when you start so you don't suffer from injuries, like shin splints, sprains, etc.


I have a question regarding shin splints. I got shin splints really bad when I was in high school, as I was a football player. After football they eventually healed.

I have trained in Martial Arts/Kickboxing my whole life, and that has been my means of staying in great physical condition outside of running. However, after my initial interview with my BGI, he suggested I do 30 minutes of calisthenics followed by a 3 mile run, 5 times a week. I was fine for 3 weeks, because I have good cardio from from training everyday. However, my shin splints have returned from running so much at 100%....the pain is very significant and I'm afraid of it getting worse before the Academy (should I pass my psych interview).

My question is: Do you think I should just keep running and deal with the pain as I will have to at the Academy? Or would it be better to enter with my legs healed, without being as ready to run as I could be? I realize that my shin splints will inevitably return during the Academy. However, I would much rather deal with the the pain while I'm in, than to have to deal with it now, and have it progress even more so during PT. Thanks in advance.

[HIPCHIP]

I have a question regarding shin splints. I got shin splints really bad when I was in high school, as I was a football player. After football they eventually healed.

I have trained in Martial Arts/Kickboxing my whole life, and that has been my means of staying in great physical condition outside of running. However, after my initial interview with my BGI, he suggested I do 30 minutes of calisthenics followed by a 3 mile run, 5 times a week. I was fine for 3 weeks, because I have good cardio from from training everyday. However, my shin splints have returned from running so much at 100%....the pain is very significant and I'm afraid of it getting worse before the Academy (should I pass my psych interview).

My question is: Do you think I should just keep running and deal with the pain as I will have to at the Academy? Or would it be better to enter with my legs healed, without being as ready to run as I could be? I realize that my shin splints will inevitably return during the Academy. However, I would much rather deal with the the pain while I'm in, than to have to deal with it now, and have it progress even more so during PT. Thanks in advance.



"Shin Splints" is a generic term for any lower leg pain, so it could be several things. The most common is a weak tib. anterior where the muscle is pulling away from the bone, but it could be other things too. If you can, go see your doctor and see if you can talk to a physical therapist and get evaluated. If available, go to the local high school or college and see if the athletic trainer will evaluate you.

Make sure your shoes are the proper ones for your feet. If you pronate or there are other problems then you may need orthotic inserts to correct your stance. A good running store should be able to evaluate your walking and your shoes.

In general, you want to strengthen all the muscles of the lower leg. Get a bicycle tire tube and put it under something heavy and the put one end around your foot. You want to move your foot in all four directions, down-up, turned in, and turned out, against the resistance of the tube. Use a light tube and change the amount of resistance. Try for 3 sets of 10.

Make sure you do good stretching of the area before you start your run. Try and stretch in the same four directions up, down, in and out, also do circle left and circle right. If you can, put your legs in warm water for 20 minutes before you start, this will also help to relax the muscles and make for a better stretch. Also, massage the area to get it to losen up before you run. Do a nice easy run to allow your legs to warm up, then stop and stretch again.

When you are done running, stretch again, and get some ice bags and strap them on for 20 minutes, no more. If you can, get some paper or foam cups and fill them with water and put them in the freezer. Pull out a frozen cup, tear off some paper/foam exposing the ice, make sure there are no sharp areas, and do an ice massage. Start at the botton and work your way up, then go lightly back down, the hard up again. Also no more than 20 minutes (only do one or the other, never more than 20 minutes of icing, then at least 40 minutes off to allow the area to warm up).

This will help to stretch and strengthen the musculature, reduce swelling, and allow everything to get stronger. It will take several weeks for the muscles to get stronger and the pain to start going away, but it will happen.

This is a very simplistic and basic program. If you can be evaluated by an physical therapist, or an athletic trainer, then you can get more specific, but this should get you going in the right direction.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info or you need me to be more specific on something.

[mmachp]

Thank you for your response Sir, I greatly appreciate it!
I did in fact take all the necessary steps to both treat and prevent shin splints after I found out I am susceptible to them. I now have prescribed Orthodics that were made for my feet only. In addition, I've iced with Dixie cups, used elastic bands to work out my shins, and have done hundreds of "toe taps" a day...ultimately to no avail. It has helped some, but has not completely prevented it. I realize that this is something I'm going to have to deal with during the Academy.

Since shin splints are inevitable for me, I don't know if I should just take a week off, (in which I will rehabilitate my shins and allow them to heal). Then come back and do low impact training (running on a treadmill, non stop calisthenics for 30 minutes, etc..) I don't want to enter the Academy unprepared to perform physically, but at the same time I absolutely DO NOT want to enter already injured. Any advice from those who have gone through the Academy? Thank you all in advance.

[HIPCHIP]

IF your shin splints are caused by muscle weakness, then the icing, stretching, strengthening, heating, shoe inserts will all help. It is caused by the periostium (the tissue that holds the muscle to the bone) being irritated. Once the muscles become stronger the shin splints should go away. Do some general massage (push from the ankle to the knee, and then touch lightly as you go back to the ankle) at night while you're sitting and watching TV, then do your icing, and take anti-inflammatory medicine if you're able.

If it hurts to do any walking, running, or other physical activity, then I would take some time off from running and do some cross training. Ride a bicycle, swim, run in the shallow end of the pool, also run in the deep end of the pool so your are completely non-weight bearing. I'd also try things like trampoline jumping. Anything that makes you less than full weight bearing should be fine. You can also tape your shins, but unless you know exactly how to do it I wouldn't recommend it.

That being said, if it hurts a bunch to stand, walk, or run, or any weight bearing activity, then we have another problem other than simple shin splints.

You could have a slight fracture, which will hurt if you do any weight bearing, and it could get worse. There are ways to check for a fracture that won't show up on and X-ray. One way is called a squeeze test. Squeeze the leg AWAY from the area that hurts, I.E. squeeze the ankle bones together, or squeeze just below the knee and see if it hurts in the middle of the leg. If it hurts in a location other than where you're squeezing (I.E. if you squeeze away from the area that hurts, and you experience pain in the area that hurts) then you probably have a fracture. That's pretty simplistic, but a way to check. You can also do a "Tap" test. Have someone hit the bottom of your heal pad sending a jolt up your leg. This causes movement in the bone, so if there is a fracture this will make it move and hurt. This is a fairly easy tap, so no sledge hammer whaps!

The more serious condition is known as a compartment syndrome. This is where blood gets pumped into the leg muscle at a speed faster than the tissue can expand. This is like stepping on a hose when the water is on, the blood gets stopped and is an actual medical emergency. It will hurt with activity and will feel better when you stop, sometimes. Sit on a table and look at your foot when your leg hurts. If your toes are pointing somewhat down, more than your other foot, and it is hard to lift your foot up (just the foot at the ankle, not the lower leg), then you may be suffering from this and need to get to the emergency room ASAP. If your foot won't come up, then this is an advanced stage of compartment syndrome, so even if it isn't doing this, you could still be suffering from it.

Again, if this is something that will not go away and is a chronic problem, you need to find a good sports orthopedist. This can end up being very serious and something I really can't evaluate on-line. If your running for 3 miles and it starts to hurt at 1 mile, then you're done. If you can, walk for awhile, then try and run some more. Run on dirt not concrete or asphalt. Try skipping and hopping every now and then, at least it changes the way you are using the muscles.

Hope this helps a little more.

[mmachp]

Thank you very much HIPCHIP sir,

I am happy to say that the only time I feel any pain whatsoever is when I run. It's strange because when I stand or walk, I don't even feel the slightest pain in my shins, but when I start running it's excruciating.

I usually run on a track here at the local high school. However, on Monday I saw that the canal bank near my home was a mile and a half going one way after I measured it. I thought it would be fun to run up and back on the canal bank for a change of scenery. My legs felt fine afterwards, no different than any other run. I return to run on the HS track the next day...keep in mind feeling no added discomfort while walking or standing; only to feel excruciating pain in both of my shins. I couldn't even do one full lap. After reading your great advice, I will just take the rest of the week off and continue working out the muscles around my tibia. They're already feeling better. It's strange how running the canal bank did that since I was running on soft dirt. Maybe it was the uneven ground and pot holes.

I hope most of our running at the Academy is around the track :think:

Thank you again for taking the time to help me, Sir.

[HIPCHIP]

Thank you very much HIPCHIP sir,

I am happy to say that the only time I feel any pain whatsoever is when I run. It's strange because when I stand or walk, I don't even feel the slightest pain in my shins, but when I start running it's excruciating.

I usually run on a track here at the local high school. However, on Monday I saw that the canal bank near my home was a mile and a half going one way after I measured it. I thought it would be fun to run up and back on the canal bank for a change of scenery. My legs felt fine afterwards, no different than any other run. I return to run on the HS track the next day...keep in mind feeling no added discomfort while walking or standing; only to feel excruciating pain in both of my shins. I couldn't even do one full lap. After reading your great advice, I will just take the rest of the week off and continue working out the muscles around my tibia. They're already feeling better. It's strange how running the canal bank did that since I was running on soft dirt. Maybe it was the uneven ground and pot holes.

I hope most of our running at the Academy is around the track :think:

Thank you again for taking the time to help me, Sir.

Running on uneven surfaces requires the muscles to work differently, so can cause problems, but if the dirt was soft then that will help.

The Academy has a dirt course, but they also run on asphalt at times (at least when I went through it). Just keep doing the heat, ice, etc, make sure you have good supportive shoes and see what happens.

Wish I could eval you in person to give you more definitive info. Again, see if the local athletic trainer will give you a quick look over.

[rusty57]

NavytoCHP,
Chief, I am in a very similar situation. I too tested before the age of 35. I got a 95 on the QAP and put in a waiver when the BI called me to start the process. How long before your EAOS did you reactivate the process? I currently have about a year before I go on terminal leave. I am currently in San Diego and fly as a Naval Aircrewman. I try my best to stay in shape, but have found that good running skills may be the best attribute to have before the academy. I run a Line Division that recently started hiring civilians to perform daily tasks. Most of them are former service members. Some of them had a very difficult time dealing with junior personnel being their supervisors and quit. It's time to take the current hat off and earn a different one. With that, be humble and realize that there is always an end to anything. I look forward to joining the CHP and I am sure that a lot of the skills and core values learned and lived while on active duty will carry you through some of the tough times ahead. Good luck and stay safe.

[Gun]

Go see the doc. One of my buddies pushed himself so hard getting ready for Ranger School he wound up with stress fractures in both legs. It's worth it to get it checked out.

Like HIPCHIP said, a physical therapist can get to the bottom of your problem. If your current PT knows about your persistent problem but continues to prescribe the same remedies, try a different PT (if at all possible). It could be as simple as changing what kind of shoe you run in. Switching to a motion control/stability-type shoe helped me.