They're hoping to make the cut after a long and tough training program to take their place patrolling Oklahoma's roadways...the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's 61st Training Academy class underway now.

54 cadets...6 of them women...are in the training class right now..

The cadets will face some 1,300 hours of training over a 20-week period.

If they make it to graduation, they'll have a three month break-in period with a veteran trooper.

As of now, there are some 769 troopers throughout Oklahoma...15 of them are women.  The state has authorized 925 troopers for the agency.  Some estimate it may take 10 to 15 years for the OHP to reach that number.

OHP has made a bigger effort now to recruit women, and this year's 6 female cadets are the most to start any academy class.