Police Officer at California Highway Patrol
Infantryman leaves Corps for CA Highway Patrol.
by Warren Duffie

Armando Ortega grew up watching John Wayne movies and fantasized about becoming a Marine.

Not long before Ortega graduated from high school in 1989, he visited an Army recruiting office for some enlistment information. On the way out, just out of curiosity, he stopped in to see the Marine Corps recruiter. When Ortega walked in, he saw the buff recruiter curling weights like a bodybuilder.

“That left a big impression on me,” he says. “Not to bad-mouth the Army, but their guy was on the heavy side. Here was this Marine who was so disciplined that he was lifting weights in his office. I knew that image of strength and commitment was one I wanted to be a part of.”

Ortega maintained this standard of excellence for four years — before retiring as a corporal in 1993 — and now brings that same focus and pride to his job with the California Highway Patrol. Famous for their motorcycle and traffic police, the department also provides disaster and life-saving assistance, conducts truck and bus inspections, and investigates vehicle theft. In addition, the highway patrol comprises some 7,000 officers, makes 50,000 traffic stops a day, and arrests 4,000 motorists each year, mostly for DUIs.

“No Different than Being a Drill Sergeant”

Just like he was one of “the few and the proud” during his military life, Ortega, 34, is a link in an elite chain of police officers chosen to train new cadets at the highway patrol’s academy — a sprawling, 457-acre facility in Sacramento. The academy hosts four cadet classes per year, each comprising between 90 and 150 people and lasting 27 weeks.

Every morning, from 4:45 a.m. until 6:30 a.m., Ortega leads the cadets through vigorous calisthenics and a two-mile run. From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., he teaches classes on proper physical techniques during an arrest (e.g., how to use a baton and handcuffs) and helps organize practice sessions on appropriate group formations to use during a riot or similar civil disturbance.

“My Marine Corps training comes into play every day here,” Ortega says. “For starters, instructors have to be in good shape since we’re leading the physical training. It’s no different than being a drill sergeant.”

And like any good DI, the instructors sometimes have to crack the whip to instill discipline. If academic instructors report that cadets are slacking in their studies or disrupting class, Ortega and company will conduct “compliance sessions” in which offenders endure hard exercise as punishment — though the former Marine says that’s very rare.

“One of the best parts of my job is the camaraderie among instructors,” Ortega says. “Several are former military, and we’ve built up a very strong bond.”

From the Persian Gulf to the Police Academy

Ortega’s bond with the Marine Corps began with basic training in San Diego, followed by infantry school at nearby Camp Pendleton and an assignment to the 7th Marine Regiment at 29 Palms.

Within a year, the regiment was sent to Kuwait during Operation: Desert Shield, then to Iraq for Desert Storm. Ortega served as the “point man” of his company — meaning he was the one leading the company as it moved and was responsible for watching out for enemy activity or other disturbances.

“Being a ‘point man’ really helped me as a police officer,” he says. “You have to be observant, demonstrate good judgment, and use all of your senses, especially during night patrols when you’re most vulnerable. You’re essentially the eyes and ears of the group.” Ortega’s company was involved in a few small skirmishes but primarily watched American planes destroy Iraqi tanks. In March 1991 his regiment was sent back to 29 Palms, and Ortega soon embarked on a seven-month temporary assignment in Okinawa, Japan.

“Okinawa was a lot of fun, and I was truly loving the Marine Corps,” he says. “I planned to make it a career, to stay in for 30 years.”

That changed suddenly when he returned to 29 Palms and took some time off to visit relatives in Los Angeles. Like many children, Ortega sometimes imagined himself as a firefighter or a police officer. When he saw a recruitment poster for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, that dream was rekindled.

“I don’t know why, but I decided right there to become a police officer,” Ortega says. “I applied not only to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department but to all the local agencies, including the California Highway Patrol.

“By early 1993 I had left the Marine Corps to pursue my dream,” he continues. “I didn’t take any transition classes or anything like that — it was pretty much a leap of faith.”

Patience Pays Off

Ortega’s faith would be tested over the next five years. Thanks to hiring freezes and swollen applicant pools, the process for getting into California law enforcement was lengthy. But Ortega didn’t get discouraged. He maintained contact with police recruiters and got a job with a local utility company, marking underground electrical and water lines prior to digging. He also used his G.I. Bill benefits to take classes at a local community college. He focused on courses such as math and English, which would help him during his written exam. Finally, Ortega joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1996 and has since been promoted to gunnery sergeant.

The big day came in 1998, when he was invited by the California Highway Patrol to take its written entrance exam. He passed and entered the academy. “After going through Marine Corps boot camp, the academy was easy — push-ups, running, getting yelled at, and all that,” he says. “The hard part was the academic side, and my college classes really helped me with that. But I have to say that if you were a success in the military, you can be a success in law enforcement. The two are that similar.”

After graduation, Ortega worked as a patrol officer in Los Angeles for two years, then as a community outreach officer in Redding, California.

“Since I’m bilingual,” he says, “I was a liaison with the Hispanic community on issues surrounding law changes, drunk driving, and driving safety. In 2002 I was invited to work at the academy. The best part of my job is the action. You never know what each day will bring, so you never get bored.”

Which is why Ortega recommends the California Highway Patrol to veterans seeking adventure yet wishing to maintain their military discipline and lifestyle. The benefits are impressive: The starting salary is about $52,000 per year; the highway patrol provides full medical, dental, and vision benefits to officers and their families; and cadets are paid a salary while in the academy. In addition, those interested can apply to the department while still on active duty, and defer entry for up to eight years before their military contract ends.

But the perks aren’t just material. Say you’re tired of working in the city. You can request a transfer to the mountains, desert, or seashore. If you’re bored with patrol duty, there are opportunities with the bomb squad, as a dog handler, or with the SWAT team. The possibilities are endless, Ortega says.

But, first, he has some key pieces of advice:

Use your G.I. Bill. “Take some college classes, especially in writing and math. If you haven’t touched a textbook in awhile, they’re extremely valuable.”

Think long-term. “Be sure law enforcement is what you want to do. If so, it offers a huge array of challenges and benefits.”

Be patient. “It might take awhile before you’re accepted in a department. But don’t lose hope. It took me five years, but it was all worth it.”

For more information about the California Highway Patrol’s efforts to recruit military veterans, visit: www.chp.ca.gov/recruiting/html/military.html.