Transitioning from Military.....Seeking mentorhip

[jetmech_63]

Hello All,

I need to start off by extending my deepest gratitude to any all of those who wear the badge, your comittment and sacrifice are greatly appreciated.

A brief history.....
I am 26 years old and have been serving in the Navy for the last 8 years. A Jet Engine mechanic by trade, currently on my 5th deployment and have made the rank of E-6. My contract is up of JAN 13 of next year and with terminal leave i could be off active status as soon as November of this year. Currently i am Deployed with my squadron in Japan and will return in September. I am doing well in this career. I have worked hard and have advanced quickly. The Navy i serve today though is 180 degrees out from the one i joined 8 years ago. Leadership is poor, integrity is laughable, pride and camraderie falling a close second. More and more E-6's are getting out at that "halfway" point due to similar reasons. I'm not looking to get rich, i would have never joined the military if i was. I only ask to serve in an organization where integrity and honor are still held in sacred regards. Where camraderie is thick and pride of service still exists. My girlfriends father is a CA Game Warden and he planted the seed of Law Enforcement in my head that eventually grew into notions of the CHP. After months of researching and soul-searching i have decided definitivley on departing active service.

Being stationed in Japan and not returning until September, what if anything can i do now to get the ball rolling. I believe i can pass all requirements of entry and have a very clean back ground. I am unclear though what if anything my military service can do for me as far as benefits with the CHP. Just looking for some guiding light on the road i am about to take. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!

[antman]

Being a Navy veteran has its advantage so I have been told. I am in the beginning stages of applying for the CHP. I take my exam in July and I am also in the Navy (reserve) here in Las Vegas and my unit is out of Chinhae Korea (COMNAVFLEACT) and I am a Yeoman third class. I was active duty from 1993- 1997 and decided to get out.

Like you I missed the structure of an organization with discipline and intergrety and I returned to the Navy last year in Sep 2005. You are so right, the Navy has changed so much since the 9 years I have been out. It's not the same anymore rank is very hard to make now and the downsizing is a very big concern for me. Its seems to me they want a lot of us sailors to retire early. I looked for other opportunities that exist and a shipmate of mine brought up the CHP because he is in his last stages of the CHP hiring process and well on his way to the academy. At first I was reluctant about being a LE officer but, if you go on their website and look what the CHP has to offer, it made me really think. The have a good solid base salary, not to mention the overtime and the benefits are good and you can retire to up to 90% of your salary depending on where you live! The Navy is looking to take away and cut a lot of our benefits as you well know. So, I am thinking about not returning to active duty and keep my reserve status and join the CHP. In that way I can still have the benefits of both.

When you recieve you DD-214 make sure you give the Calfornia State Personnel Board a copy so you can receive those veteran points. You can find and download those forms needed on the CHP website they have a link you can go to last time I checked. I heard those points help out a lot when it comes to the test and QAP. The CHP really like us veterans so, I think we have a little edge on the normal hirees. Because once you attend the academy its like bootcamp all over again, but longer (6 months) and we have weekends off.

All I can tell you is go on the CHP website or call a CHP recruiter and see if he can send you an application so you can get your process started. Once you filled out the application and send it back they will schedule a date to take the test. They have the test dates on the website depending on where you want to take the test in California. I am taking mine in San Bernandino because it is the closest to Las Vegas. In your situation I think you really need to contact a recruiter and see what you can do now. I really believe you can at least start your application process and see which area in California nearest you has an exam scheduled in September.

[jetmech_63]

I was thinking the same thing, though it is a pain in the butt to coordinate phone calls when youre on a 13 hour time differential. The Navy really has changed, more and more people are coming forward and admitting that. Boot camp is a joke these days and the problems just snowball from there. I had a friend suggest Border Patrol the other day as well. I was looking on their website and it looks like a swell job. If i get accepted into CHP, pass the academy and serve a few years i was wondering about "lateral" transitions into other areas of LE, Game Warden for instance. I know i'm making the right decision here because i get excited thinking about all of the opportunity out in this field. Thanks for the reply Ant.

[dw]

jetmech,

I would first suggest reading through old topics in the hiring section here, there is a lot of information that will help you. You will see your veteran status will give you 10 extra points on your QAP interview score. State Personnel Board does not require a DD214 to my knowledge, but you do have to complete and mail in the form (look in the Links section of the main page) in time to be processed before your QAP interview.

The testing schedule can be found here (http://www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/testing.html). Find a testing cycle in your area with dates that work for you -- then send in an application a few weeks prior to the final filing date. You can also request an application on the main CHP web site.

Definitely download the applicant study guide (also in the links section) and practice for the written test -- it is more difficult than many expect. Take this time to learn everything about the Department you can. Read every page of the official site as well as information here.

Good luck.