Hair-Cut and a Shave

[junebughunter]

Since things will probably be changing for me in a few months I thought I'd post about how much I am gonna miss them

Currently I'm 6'3" I weigh 180lbs I haven't had a hair cut in a year and a half and my hair goes past my shoulders. I have a beard, abraham lincoln style with no mustache and although I'm in pretty good shape I have no big muscles or anything.

That is all about to change, tonight I am gonna join the gym...I'll probably chop off my hair in a couple of months, and the beard will probably go in a few days.

What did you guys have to change (or are going to) before you started the CHP process?

[SB 405]

"I want that hair high and tight by 0600 mister"..can't remember where I heard that.

[uoplax13]

I think I might have to do something about my allergy to running.....

[Welpe]

I've had to force myself to start exercising. I used to be into competitive sports but I can't exercise just because.

[CaliforniaHighwayPatrol]

I exercise 4-5 days a week. I used to be in good shape, then I wasn't and now I am again. What a viscious cycle.

[junebughunter]

Last night I signed up at the gym.

While I was in the managers office he asked me what my purpose for signing up was. I said I've been wanting to join and that I recently decided I am going to persue being a CHP officer so that motivated me to do it...

Now imagine, this guy was your typical, medium frame, extremely built, shaved head macho man

This was his exact response...

"You're the grungiest looking CHP officer I've ever seen, most of them look like me"

[makakona]

my husband went straight from military to chp, so while his dreams of growing a mullet upon separation were shattered, he was pretty well prepared, appearance-wise. but... he was 6'2", 170 pounds, and his (military) command's fitness leader... and he was on the training table. doh!

[Your Mentor]

My hair is longer now than it was before the CHP. I went from the military into the Academy as well. I'm embarrased to say I didn't work out at all before entering the Academy and I ended up being 4th from the top in fitness right off the bat. The first was Mike Anderson, who played football for Berkley and entered the Academy with a body fat index of 4%. Mine was 7%. I'm guessing but my lifetime obessession with surfing probably had something to do with it. I grew up in Dana Point, CA, and surfed during my military career in San Diego, Puerto Rico, Humboldt Bay and Oregon. It was just one less thing to concern myself with during training. Of course back then PT was mandatory and VERY early in the morning. I think I did most of the runs while half-asleep.

Anyway, I was glad to give up the tapered hair cut. I ended up giving up surfing several years ago mainly because I couldn't work the road where I like and afford to drive to the beach on a routine basis. That and I'm alergic to shark bites. So I got into rock climbing.

[Mac]

When I went for my QAP, one guy showed up in jeans and a t-shirt with long hair and a beard.

He must've made quite an impression - never saw him again. :confused:

[KingFrankSam]

Of course back then PT was mandatory and VERY early in the morning.

As opposed to the PT now, which is voluntary and starts around 10ish... ;)

[Your Mentor]

Seriously though, they earn CTO now as cadets. We didn't when I went through. A lot changed because of a law suit by some LT a few years back. :neutral:

[Mac]

Seriously though, they earn CTO now as cadets. We didn't when I went through.

Nor did we work 8-hour days. FLSA didn't exist when I went through, the average day at the Academy was 14-16 hours....and no CTO or overtime. PT at 0500, and study hall usually ended at 2100. If you had night range, field exercises, etc., that was in addition to the rest of the day - no schedule adjust. FLSA changed a lot of things.

[dw]

Seriously though, they earn CTO now as cadets. We didn't when I went through.

Nor did we work 8-hour days. FLSA didn't exist when I went through, the average day at the Academy was 14-16 hours....and no CTO or overtime. PT at 0500, and study hall usually ended at 2100. If you had night range, field exercises, etc., that was in addition to the rest of the day - no schedule adjust. FLSA changed a lot of things.

FLSA changed some things for sure, but Cadets should still plan on 12-14 hour days!

[Dipmo]

Maybe i'm talking a bit out of school here, but i always had the impression that when you are at the academy they own your butt. If they ask you to do something you do it and be glad for the oppertunity to be there. I know we live in an age of overtime rules and kid gloves, but if they asked me to be up at 0400 to run and go to bed at 2200 hours because i have to learn to drive in the dark everyone there should say thank you sir may i have another.

But since the rules are what they are, I'l look forward to my breakfast in bed and my personal butler to do my running for me.:biggrin:

[makakona]

Seriously though, they earn CTO now as cadets. We didn't when I went through.

Nor did we work 8-hour days. FLSA didn't exist when I went through, the average day at the Academy was 14-16 hours....and no CTO or overtime. PT at 0500, and study hall usually ended at 2100. If you had night range, field exercises, etc., that was in addition to the rest of the day - no schedule adjust. FLSA changed a lot of things.

FLSA changed some things for sure, but Cadets should still plan on 12-14 hour days!

yeah, i think it's a total misnomer when people here mention that they now get eight hour days. not so much!

[DESERT RAT]

Not to rub it in, but when I got out of the academy I had like 130hrs of CTO. No kidding I was up at 0400 and working/studying till 2300. I did not expect all the CTO, when I graduated. However, it was there and Im still taking advantage of it. I never asked for the CTO, or expected it. I was happy, just to be there! 1 year on and I can take 2 months vacation if I wanted! Some may bitch and moan about the pay, but the vacation and time off is absolutely un-comparable! OOHrah and sorry if you didn't get all the benefits as some of the current class!

[gofly]

sorry to change the topic back a little bit but...how is 6'2" and 170 and a military fitness leader(makakona's husband) someone who ends up on the training table? I'm 5'10" and 175 and there is no way I'd be considered overweight. I even think I am on the thin side. But am I doomed to the fat farm? (if I am ever so lucky as to end up in Sacramento...) He and the first poster sound like they are underweight to me (for being that tall.) Is the training table purely based on the numbers (height, weight, body fat) or does it matter how you do in the PT and on the POST tests?

good luck...be safe

[pupdog]

You can get a bathroom scale that you stand on barefoot, and it zaps you (painlessly) and tells your body fat %. To stay off the training table, men must not exceed 16%, and women must not exceed 20%. I think I'm dooned for it.

[graver]

junebughunter,

shave your head with a razor and your good to go.

[Your Mentor]

Body fat index is the determining factor. It isn't always the most accurate indicator but you have to understand that the training table isn't just for overweight people. Underweight individuals will also end up on the training table.

[Dipmo]

Underweight individuals will also end up on the training table.


I am pretty skinny (6' 0" 155) so you have piqued my interest as to what is considered underweight. I don't mind eating more, but I am hoping avoid extra memos should I get up there.

[Your Mentor]

The training table isn't a form of discipline, though many take it that way. It's supposed to encourage a change in eating habits which will carry on after the Academy. I was never on the training table but I got into weight training immediately after breakin at the urgings of one of my FTOs. I continued a solid weight training routine up until I turned 40. I was in better shape in 2000 than I was the day I graduated. But since then I've slid downhill, big time. Getting motivated to maintain the physique you'll have when you graduate will be totally up to you.