Kyle Ramirez is a local 17 year old, soon to be Senior of Fillmore High School. In his free time he has joined the California Highway Patrol Cadet/Explorer program located at the Moorpark station. The California Highway Patrol’s Explorer Program is for young men and women, 15 to 21 years of age, allowing them to develop the skills and knowledge needed to serve the people through discipline and commitment. Explorers are able to assist the CHP both in office and out in the field but also participate in physical fitness training, medical training, organizational, and clerical training. Kyle was able to attend a week long academy at the CHP training facility located in Sacramento. There he joined 43 other explorers that came from all over California. Kyle and the other explores went through a hell week where they were all put through extensive classroom training and physical fitness challenges to push their limits. The program is a crash course of the real life academy setting and holds them all to the same standards. All 44 explores graduated the 6 day program and preformed all physical and mental tests required of them. At the end of the program Kyle received a badge and a completion certificate and is allowed to return for level four at 19 if he chooses to continue in this program. Photo courtesy of Sebastian Ramirez.