Law Enforcement Careers while serving in Military?
Do local law enforcement agencies prefer military experience? If so do they hire personnel serving in the reserves?
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Tags: Careers, Enforcement, experience, Law, law enforcement agencies, Law-enforcement-careers, Military, military experience, serving
6 Responses to “Law Enforcement Careers while serving in Military?”
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You will probably get paid more if you have a military background. Some parts, like SWAT, prefer that you have a military background. But it isn’t a must. You usually just need an Associate’s Degree and go through the police academy.
Yes, they prefer military experience and they will hire you while you are still in the reserves. Most agencies will put you through the academy after they hire you. Let the department foot the bill for the academy. Most agencies prefer it that way.
Any military experience would look good but serving with an MP unit or with the Coast Guard would definitely give you an edge. I’m in the Coast Guard and know a few reservists who are cops or customs agents.
Some do prefer it, some will take military experience in place of a degree. Yes, local police departments do hire people serving in Reserves and National Guard.
I’d hate to sit on a merit hiring board these days. I’d be more apt to hire someone not in the Reserves or National Guard, because of the strain on the Department when a police officer (or officers) is deployed as a solider, sailor, air man, or marine.
The agency I work for prefers it. Although, recently (last 5 years or so) agencies in my state are going away from the military experience for Bacholor’s degrees and higher. It’s unfortunate but they feel college is better than real life.
At my PD we hire reservists. We have a lot of reservists and prior active duty.
When the reservists are activated, the city kicks in the rest of the their pay to equal what they would make working full time in the city. It goes for all city employees that serve their Nation.
Before I read all the whining, its a little impossible to go from $108,000 as a cop, then a pay cut to $33,000 as a soldier and keep up a $4000 monthly house payment here. Now cry away.