Tennessee Highway Patrol cadet Brian Ramsey said, "I've always looked up to Troopers," but by the end of the first snow and sleet filled March day at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Donaldson he was thinking to himself, "I can't believe I'm going to have to do this for 18 more weeks." Early on Ramsey caught the attention of Lt. Robert Bighem, assistant director of the academy, who singled out Ramsey during one of the first outdoor formations. Bighem says, "We're in their face because we want them to be able to work under pressure." He added, "Citizens of the state depend on the highway patrol so if they can handle the controlled stress here they can handle the stress out there."

Lt. Bighem calls them team building exercises, and he adds, "The only way you get people to work together is to discipline them together. It's bonding, so they have that common experience." Cadet Frank Yates-Matoy remembers, "In the military you never saw the senior drill unless you really jacked up, with the LT (Bighem) we get a dose of him every day, every meal," and then adds, "I don't enjoy hall push-ups."

Lt. Robert Bighem, center in black jogging attire, says, "Morning runs are a good opportunity for team building," and adds, "When you're out there with them in the moorings they say, 'this guy is for real.'" Bighem is fond of quoting, "A sermon seen is better than one preached any day."

Evans says, "I think we came together quickly as a team and worked together well." Evans is helping dormmate Matthew Blankenship shave a missed spot on his head. Cadets are encouraged, but not required, to shave their heads. About week 14 they are told to grow their hair back it they wish. Female cadets are not asked to shave but keep hair pulled back tight.

"I hate knees to elbows," cadet Jason Sherrod says, "I was in great cardio shape when I came, but this crossfit seems to cover all the areas and get you in better shape for the job we're doing."

Cadets Harrison Fisher, left, Benjamin Dossett, and Khalut Ghazi, center, make sure Dossett's uniform is lint free before heading for breakfast. Alex Evans says, "I think I was looking for a pair of socks." Adjunct instructor Trooper Krystal Mathis says at this point they think we are being picky about link on their uniform, but "It represents attention to details and teamwork." She adds that one day on the road, that attention to detail might catch a gun laying on a seat or sticking out of a waistband.

Academy assistant director Lt. Robert Bighem says learning the basics of any procedure boils down to, "attention to details." In this case cadet Brian Ramsey gets help with the THP's method of handcuffing a violator. Ramsey remembers, "The THP method made sense than what I had been taught as an county officer, but, as a lefty, I had to get some help from the Lt in getting the technique down."

"That's one of the harder exercises I've ever done," said cadet Frank Yates-Matoy about a 4:45 a.m. physical training exercise, and then added, "I never thought in a million years I'd be doing crossfit." He came to the academy weighing 304 pounds and at week 18 weighed 228. Yates-Matoy said this photo was early, "Later we had to walk up the wall until our bellies touched and hold there for two minutes."

THP firearms instructor Sgt Kenny House says we do barricade drills and try and "Get the cadets to understand the importance of shooting from cover." House helps cadet Alex Evans while he shoots around a barrier.

Firearms instructor Sgt. Kenny House says the purpose of the night shoot is learning to shoot your weapon with a flashlight in the support hand which is vital for an officer. An officer uses their flashlight more than just at night. House says, "Bottom line it's all about safety and the officers being competent with all the guns they are issued." Cadet Alex Evans remembers, "We got down to the range after the classroom work and I was just having a ball, cause I love shooting."

"Radar training was actually pretty fun," said cadet Frank Yates-Matoy cause, "I'd always wondered how they knew how fast I was going." Yates-Matoy said growing up his dad was a truck driver and was always talking about different types of radar detectors. "Now I've learned that if I'm doing my job correctly detectors don't do any good."

"It was just interesting to see what the troopers were like away from the training center environment," says cadet Brian Ramsey, just out of frame left. Cadet Alex Evans, left beside Trooper Michael Cummins, said, "It was great to see that they have that switch they are trying to teach us about. There is a time to have fun, but a time to get the job done." Cadet Frank Yates-Matoy said, "It was probably the best two days of the academy, being away from the building you sorta felt human again."

Cadet Jason Sherrod works on report for his crash investigation class in his dorm room, "But, every evening there is something to be done after we finish training." In the first weeks of the academy cadets are issued the laptop they will use through their career.

THP Sgt. Jonathan Street, center, responds to jokes about how slow he and Trooper Michael Cummins, right, are at being bartenders during the DUI "Live Lab." During their driving under the influence training citizen volunteers are driven to and from the academy to drink under strict supervision so the cadets can experience people under various levels of intoxication.

Cadet Jason Sherrod, center, preforms a field sobriety test on an unnamed citizen volunteer during the "Live Lab" training. During their driving under the influence training citizens volunteer, and are driven to and from the academy, to drink under strict supervision so the cadets can experience dealing with violators under various levels of intoxication. "I just wish we had this when I went through the academy," said THP Sgt. Chris Dye, "It would have help me on my first few DUI stops on the road."

Cadet Joseph Brown, center, is quizzed by adjunct instructor Trooper Krystal Mathis as he is lined up for lunch. Lt. Robert Bighem says they use the chow hall as a multi-purpose training room. Cadets are required to march in while being inspected for their uniform and stance and at the same time another instructor may be testing them on the knowledge they have acquired up to then.

THP cadet Brian Ramsey with his two-month-old son Seamus who was born while he was in the academy. He was given the weekend off for the birth.

THP Trooper Frank Yates-Matoy alphabetically was the last one to walk across the stage during the graduation ceremony for class 713. As each new trooper came off the state the members of the training staff were lined up the offer congratulations. Friday morning at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church they became the 56 newest Tennessee State Troopers.