CHP media boot camp: Training like a cadet for a day

At the California Highway Patrol academy every step has meaning behind it and reporters from around the state got to experience it firsthand.

For six and a half months, men and women hoping to get the title of CHP officer, pick up their lives and move to west Sacramento for training.

But it’s even a privilege to make it that far. In 2018, out of the 14,000 applicants only 1.5% made it to the academy and on average 75% of them graduate.

The academy runs 135 days, providing 1,310 hours of training on 66 subjects.

Last week, reporters from around California were invited to train like a cadet for a day to see some of what they go through during that six and a half months.

The day consisted of marching on the drill pad, physical training, a timed obstacle course, weapons training, EVOC (emergency vehicle operations course), deescalation techniques and DUI scenarios.

Some of that took place while participants were getting yelled at by instructors, but even that yelling has a purpose.

“The goal is when you get out to the real world, when we put a real badge on your chest and a real gun on your hip, and you get out there and that’s a real knife, and these are real bullets in your gun that have lasting ramifications should you have to use them, that when your stress increases you go, “You know what? I’ve been trained on this,'” said one of the enforcement tactics instructors.

Cadets who are still going through their training say the days are long and exhausting, but giving up is not in the cards.

“Have I felt like quitting, yes. There’s those moments sometimes you come home after that weekend and are like, ‘Why am I here?’ But then you start calming yourself down and it’s just like you don’t want to be that quitter. When they (his children) get older, I don’t want to look back and say I should have tried harder. And I want them, my daughters, to maybe have that same mentality: Do what you want, push yourself the hardest you can and if you really want it you’ll accomplish it,” said cadet Ladesma.

For other cadets, like David Meza, when he’s questioning his reason for being here, he remembers why he came in the first place.

He attended the Route 91 Music Festival in 2017 when a mass shooting claimed 59 lives, and said since that life-changing day he knew he wanted to be in law enforcement.

“I want to help people, I want to run towards the threat in order to save other people. It was a strange feeling running away from it, and not being able to do much for others,” said cadet Meza.

And while the goal is to protect and serve, the cadets also know it means risking their life to do so.

Reporters got to witness the academy’s Fountain Ceremony which is held every Wednesday.

The fountain that sits in the middle of academy grounds has 231 plaques with all the names of CHP officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. During the ceremony, cadets polish each plaque.

“I have classmates on here. As a CHP officer, the longer you’re with the department, unfortunately, the more people you know who are on this fountain. Sometimes it causes the cadets to realize they don’t want to do this job, that they don’t want to make that sacrifice, but everyone who graduates this academy is well aware that is a possibility,” said Capt. Sven Miller.

To qualify as a cadet, applicants must be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 20 and 35 with a high school diploma or equivalent.

Those interested in pursing a career with the CHP can visit http://www.chpcareers.com.