Army question??

Question

I am 16 and I want to join want to sign up in the Army when I am 18,and so I want to serve my country and be an MP......when I am out of the military would my local police department want to hire me or would I have to go to college to go in the police deparment?

Like what is the difference with Law Enforment(LE) or Combat(COM)???Like LE for police and sheriff and COM for liek SWAT or what??

Answer 1

First off, its nice you have the desire to serve your country, as it seems to be a desire that is dying off. Thank You. If being an MP is your dream, go for it. You should also take into consideration if you plan on retiring or just doing your 4 or so years. As an MP, well, they're not regarded very highly by all the other soldiers. Granted the Army needs them, its just how their job is. I was in a class a couple weeks ago with an MP who was a Staff Sergeant (E-6) and it came as a shock to us when he told us he had been in for 18 years. Any other squared away soldier could have made E-6 in about 8 - 10 years. They do not make rank very quickly.

For the civilian part afterwards, as stated above, it would all depend on where you apply. Having heard some discussions between the army and some of their civilian contracters, a lot of law enforcement offices our reluctant to hire former MPs as they operate in a totally different manner. Having a degree helps, but isn't always necessary. It does make you stand out above the competetion. I joined when i was 19 with an associates degree and the army made me a pilot. I could have done it without the degree, but having it surely helped. Look into some community colleges, you can start taking them while your in highschool and have the credits count towards both. I can give you more on the military side of it, but to figure out the civilian part you would be best to talk to someone who works higher up in the law enforcment agency. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hey, I don't know much about the military but I got my brother to answer this one. Here it is straight from the horses mouth. Hope this helps you.

"Just having BCT (basic combat training) is a plus, but having MP training makes you a cop already. You may need some classes though. Not neccesarily college ( though college would be a plus in any case). The U.S.Army Military Police Training School is no longer training MP's for Law and Order (effective January 1, 2007) which is basically the same as what civilian police do. Keep in mind that when reviewing applications any police force will take an applicant with a college degree over one without." PV2. Meek 346th MP Co. U.S.Army Reserve

Answer 3

It depends on your local police department's requirements for hiring.

You will be able to get a law enforcement job when you get out of the army if that's what you want to do. (but I don't know how much being an MP will help, you will most likely have to go to their Academy with guys right off the street)

You will most likely deploy in a Army MP unit and spend most of your time preparing for deployment unless you go to a law enforcement unit that dose not deploy (there are less and less of these every day).

Your MOS will not change between Combat unit or Law Enforcement unit but your unit mission changes.

I hope this helped.

Answer 4

Alot of law enforcement agencies hire retired military. And not just retired MPs. But as far as if you would get hired based on college or not.

It all depends on if the agencies that you are applying to has 2 years of college as a requirement. Here in Columbus, GA you have to have at least 2 years but if you go to Atlanta, GA you do not. So you just have to check with where you are applying.

Answer 5

Having the 95B MOS on your resume will assist you but only after you get through the initial Police Department tests. The hiring process for PD's usually involve initial physical and written exams. Then, depending on the department, you will have polygraphs and an interview. The interview is where the MP experience will assist. Those who have state issued Law Enforcement Certifications will normally be considered before you, then those with criminal justice degrees, then those with prior military/MP experience and then those with no education and no experience. So, while it will give you a bit of an edge, it is not relatively large. I would suggest using your veterans benefits after your service and go to school. Then you can double cash on your college degree AND your MP experience. That will really give you a leg up. Best of luck in the future!

In the Army - LE and COM are designators regarding an MP unit's mission assignment. MP's are used on the battlefield for traffic control, rear area security, route recon, enemy prisoner of war command and control and a host of smaller assignments that are completely unrelated to a civilian police officer. In a garrison environment, an MP can be assigned as a corrections officer or as a "road MP" which is very similar to regular police work. The issue, as with nearly all Army jobs, is getting assigned to the right unit. Due to our current international obligations, MP's are needed very badly on the battlefield. Most installations have turned their normal law enforcement duties over to DOD police officers in an effort to relieve the MP's from this duty so they can be utilized in forward areas. Unless you get your unit assignment guaranteed in your initial enlistment contract (and even then it would only be for a limited time period) your chance of getting assigned to an LE unit right out of AIT in today's Army is quite slim. Even during peacetime, the Army seems to prefer to assign newer MP's to Division-line units, reserving the LE slots for more experienced soldiers (there are some exceptions - but those are "lucky dogs" the rule is usually first assignment is Division-Line aka COM units). P.S. As for SWAT, the MP's have a special school that you can only get to through request and approval by your chain of command called SRT (Special Reaction Team). This school cannot be guaranteed in an enlistment contract. To get it, you must be assigned to a unit who is assigned an SRT team and then must request and be approved through that unit (these are usually sought after school slots so expect competition).

Answer 6

Depends on whether you become a Law Enforcement MP or a Combat MP. Go for the Law Enforcement if you can.

Answer 7

I'm an M.P. in California. I need to go to a six month Post Course.

Answer 8

they should hire u but i'm bot sure if they need college... i doubt it

talk to a local recruter

Answer 9

yes u have to at least have ur associates degree. this applys everywhere.