I have heard that being an MP will NOT help your chances of becoming a civilian police officer. I have also heard from people, including cops in my hometown, that it will only help me. I know that they differ in some things, maybe even alot of things, but I think the experience alone would give you a step up on other people applying and also be a big help when you actually attend the police academy.
So whats the deal? I mean if you have an interest in law enforcement is being an MP a waste of time as a job in the military?
2006-07-10 10:30:57 · 17 answers · asked by Jester 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Becoming and MP and staying in the military for some time does help you because it can get you though police academy and pay for it while giving you some great experience at the same time also it looks impressive on a resume! Talk to a recruiter and they for sure can give you a lot of information.
2006-07-10 10:39:03 · answer #1 · answered by moonlightangelgundam 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. If you wanna be a cop after you go into the military than being an mp is only logical. When people say it won't help you that is not true. Many departments, including the NYPD, will wave the college requirement if you have served in the military in general. But if you were an mp that gives you a leg up on the other former service members. If you wanna be a cop after, being an mp will help a lot, especially if you get a chance to work with federal agencies while you're in and get investigative experience.
2006-07-10 17:36:00 · answer #2 · answered by joeybagofdonnuts 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Military police are enforcers of Military Law and not civilian law in most cases. Most police departments require either a collage degree, or a certain amount of time served in the military (Not always in MP units)... If you want to be a police officer check with the department you wish to join and get their hiring criteria.... Good Luck
2006-07-11 05:21:50 · answer #3 · answered by eldertrouble 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If being in the police is a goal and you don't want to go to school join the military and become a MP or SP. Most law enforcement organizations want x-military police experience especially small towns.
2006-07-10 18:27:50 · answer #4 · answered by 7782264 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whether or not being a MP affects you getting a job in civilian law enforcement, which i am sure it does, it would most definatly be a huge help to you. basic training is a plus no matter what field you go into after the service, and the training that military police go through is most likely the same if not more than what the civilian police do.
the military is always a good choice, and it will most definatly help you in whatever you do after the service. :)
2006-07-10 17:36:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a waste of time. there is good training in the military law enforcement community. If you would like an even better chance on the outside, join as an MP but get in writing that you want anti-terrorism training. That will get you extra schooling that is in high demand in the civillian law enforcement market.
2006-07-10 17:36:26 · answer #6 · answered by mikis1967 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A police officer applicant is evaluated based on his overall impression he makes on the applicant investigators/review board, etc. If a candidate conveys the impression that he already knows it all (whether because of MP experience, college, or whatever) then he will probably score low during the application process.
MPs (whether rightly or wrongly) have the reputation of freely using excessive force (a nightsick up beside the head) against any drunk/disorderly soldier he encounters. The police officer applicant must overcome that reputation by trying to appear level headed. Good Luck.
2006-07-10 17:41:43 · answer #7 · answered by Hey Joe! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
problem about MPs is that they don't train you as intensely as a Police Academy would.
Examples:
MPs aren't trained to appear in court.
MPs aren't trained to understand legal police powers limitation (ie: search and seizure rules are completely different on base under the UCMJ versus the civilian 4 and 5 th amendment protections)
MPs aren't trained to drive offensive/defensive and containment driving techniques.
MPs aren't trained to understand traffic and motor vehicle codes
MPs aren't trained to detain suspects as part of a criminal investigation.
MPs aren't trained to understand police powers in a civilian environment.
Police academies take 7 months of training to do all of that.
Being an MP gives you a better advantage of getting accepted to an academy but not as a replacement in lieu of one.
you might get better promotion offers if you had college degree to show for it. Bilingual abilities are in very high demand too. Those mean more than being a military MP (which we all know is mostly guard duty)
2006-07-10 17:40:14 · answer #8 · answered by Iomegan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was an Air Force SP and was offered to join the police department after my enlistment. It helps in small cities were recruitment is low for law enforcement.
2006-07-10 17:35:00 · answer #9 · answered by cagil1988 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being an MP in the army will give you experience and training, but will not help you in the civilian world. to be a cop you still have to be state certified, and it will help to have a criminal justice degree.
The military training will help while you go through the academy with inspections and physical training.
2006-07-11 09:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by jordanjd4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋