Why veterans should consider careers in law enforcement
From Military.com | By Sean Mclain Brown
Just because you didn’t serve with the military police doesn’t mean a career in criminal justice is off the table. One of the most important lessons you can learn about your service to this country is your MOS doesn’t dictate your future. And this is especially true for careers in criminal justice.
Don’t have your degree? No problem. Some police departments have programs that waive initial degree requirements and allow veterans to serve as a police officer while earning their degree part-time. In addition, many law enforcement agencies give hiring preferences for veterans.
Pro tip: Be sure to inquire about any veterans hiring program or preference points when you speak with a law enforcement recruiter.
Typically, the criminal justice system consists of three major components: (1) law enforcement (police, sheriffs, marshals, border patrol, national parks); (2) adjudication (courts which include judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers); and (3) corrections (prison officials, probation officers, and parole officers). In a criminal justice system, these distinct agencies operate together under the rule of law and are the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society.
There are many reasons why law enforcement agencies actively seek veterans to employ within their ranks and why veterans are attracted to the field of law enforcement upon retirement. For one, the structure of a police force is very similar to that of the military. Secondly, many of the same traits that make a person successful in the military are also required for success in a law enforcement agency. Here are five reasons why veterans make good law enforcement candidates:
1. Veterans possess a high level of discipline, integrity, and responsibility.
There is great pride in doing your job in the military and doing it to the best of your ability. Servicemembers enjoy a community of shared values; many in law enforcement do too. It’s easy to draw the lines of comparison between military service and law enforcement when it comes to maintaining a high degree of discipline, integrity, and personal responsibility.
2. Teamwork.
Military veterans are not only trained to contribute to a team in order to thrive but they also learn that they have to count on a team to survive. Likewise, police officers rely on each other to keep themselves and the public safe.
3. Critical thinking, especially during high-stress situations.
As in the military, police officers require a high degree of critical thinking skills, including during high-stress scenarios. The military does a good job at training personnel to think and act quickly during life-or-death situations.
4. A Community of Shared Values.
As with the criminal justice system, most people join the military to be a part of something larger than themselves, to give back, and to help others. The Toys for Tots program, a successful toy donation program started by the Marine Corps, is a good example of military community engagement. Similarly, there is PALS, the Police Athletic League, a national police department athletic program that helps pair underserved children with police mentors while learning the importance of teamwork in athletics.
5. A Desire to Serve Others.
Ask any servicemember you know why they joined the military. Chances are part of their answer would include the fact that they wanted to serve others and make a difference. The same could be said of police officers. In both the military and law enforcement, there is a culture of “to protect and serve.” What’s not often talked about is the critical role servicemembers play in many natural disasters. They come with food and aid worldwide. Law enforcement, while working on a local level, has many community aid programs with the goal of strengthening a community, especially the underserved and vulnerable.