Invitation to the Academy!!

On November 2, 2016, right around noon, J received his invitation to the CHP Academy! We were confident/ hopeful that he would get in, but getting that email was just icing on the cake! While at work, I just kept looking at the date on the calendar thinking to myself "God I hope he hears from them soon". During our lunch, he came to say hi and we chatted for a couple minutes. Before he left to go grab some food, he said "Oh yeah, look at this email a parent sent me" and handed me his phone. I started to read it, thinking it would be an email from a parent complaining about something, and then realized it said:

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have been selected to report to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy for Cadet, CHP, training.

I looked at him, and then out came the water works! I was just so happy, excited and proud of him! He has worked so hard this past year and half and it felt great to see all his work paying off! I cried, hugged him, and cried some more when some co-workers/ friends came in and started yelling and cheering (J couldn't hold it in, so he told them on his way to see me). After wiping my eyes, we started face-timing my family, calling and texting our friends and loved ones, sharing the amazing news with them. It was so heart warming to see/hear them all talking about how deserving J was for this opportunity and how happy they are for him and us. Later that night, we went out to celebrate with some much deserving pizza & beer with his family and my uncle (the CHP officer who recruited him ;) ). We wanted to pick his and his wife's brains about what to expect and how to cope with the stresses we know will be taking place. We're so fortunate to have such an amazing support system behind us that I know we will do just fine and can handle whatever gets thrown at us. 

So for now, until J's report date, we plan on spending as much time as possible together, getting everything he needs, and packing up what I need so I can move closer to the academy to support him on his liberty days :)

I decided to include J's timeline so you can see just how strenuous and intense the application process is just for an opportunity to get accepted into the academy. Enjoy! 


June 2015 - Attended Informational Seminar
July 6th, 2015 - Submitted Online Application
Aug. 17th, 2015 - Mock Physical Abilities Test & Written Test Workshop
Sept. 26th, 2015 - Physical Abilities Test
Sept. 27th, 2015 - Written Test
Oct. 13th, 2015 - Received Test Results
Dec. 9th, 2015 - Contacted by Backgrounds Unit to complete Personal History Statement (PHS)
Dec. 21st, 2015 - Submitted PHS & several other documents
Feb. 10th, 2016 - Background Investigation Orientation
Feb. 23rd - Initial Background Interview
Mar. 8th - Academy Preparation Workshop
May 26th - Computer Voice Stress Analysis
Aug. 15th - Final Interview & Written Psych Test
Aug. 20th - Ride Along with CHP Officer
Aug. 29th - Medical Exam 
Sept. 24th- J PROPOSED
Oct. 19th- Oral Psych Test
Nov. 2nd- ACADEMY INVITATION