Officer Chris Young
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Careers to Watch
by Sergeant Angela Ditzenberger Chris Young knew from the time he was a small child that he would settle for nothing less than a career to which he could be proud. For him, that meant being a U. S. Marine. After graduating from the Kenard Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, he set out to live his dream in June 1984. The Marine Corps was everything Chris thought it would be. He quickly developed a strong sense of honor, leadership and pride in his career. As a drill instructor, he was able to instill the same principles in Marine recruits. He was very satisfied with his life at the time, and recalled, "I planned to make a career of the Marine Corps. I had no intentions of looking anywhere else. Leaving the Corps for law enforcement never even crossed my mind." That was until a fellow Marine drill instructor decided to begin testing with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and encouraged Chris to do the same. While his friend Mark Parsons (now a sergeant with the CHP) was going through the hiring process with the CHP, Chris began to recognize many of the qualities he loved about the military were consistent with those of the CHP. Mark's excitement was contagious, and Chris made a choice that would change life as he knew it. After almost ten years in the military, he made the decision to leave a career he loved and joined the CHP. He would not regret his decision.
When he's not working for the CHP, Chris can be found at his daughter's statewide cheerleading competitions. His flexible work schedule allows him to travel along with his wife, daughter and son to most of the competitions. Chris says he is thankful his friend Mark Parsons encouraged him to apply with the CHP six years ago. He said, "I still love the Marine Corps, but I feel that I've come to the right place to make a difference in my community. The California Highway Patrol has provided nothing short of an outstanding career for me." 
For additional information and applications, contact the CHP at: 1-888-4A CHP JOB (1-888-422-4756) TT/TDD EOE/ADA or by e-mail |
Officer Chris Young
Chris graduated from the CHP Academy in October, 1995, and went to the San Diego Area office, where he worked the night shift (by choice) for nearly three years. His military background would serve as an advantage when CHP Border Division Recruitment was looking for a sharp officer with prior military experience to recruit in San Diego's large military population. Chris jumped at the chance to mentor and motivate applicants, some of which were Marines that desired to make the natural transition from the Corps to the CHP. He also became a coordinator for the