any perspective on transitioning from military to law enforcement?

Question

basically i am looking to transition to a career in law enforcement and specifically into the SWAT/sniping aspect of it. as far as my experience, i have served in both the Marines and the Army,which im currently still in as an infantry scout sniper team leader. After this next deployment i will be leaving active duty with 2 combat tours as well as having completed the US Army Sniper School and US Army Ranger School with a combined time of 8 1/2 years of active duty time. What I would like to do is go to a large city police department, such as LAPD, Miami-Dade PD,( I'm sure there are plenty more those are the two that came to mind) and become a police officer. After completing my minimum requirements as a new officer i would like to get a chance at a SWAT position particularly as a sniper due to my military background. Basically i'm wondering if thats a reasonable goal. I understand that some departments have a long line of people looking to go into the SWAT profession and was wondering if perhaps my previous background would help be get in the door a little quicker after doing my time on the beat as an officer on the street. Any perspective at all on my situation would be a big help. thanks for your time...

Answer 1

Your background is excellent for that goal. After your minimum time you'll be eligible to test. Keep this mind, you will have to have made a strong name for yourself as a seriously focused guy that gets alot of self initiated felony pinches. To get onto a team, you're basically shoulder tapped. As long as you're not a complete Adam Henry and can't get along with others, you should be fine.

I'm trying the same thing, but on the EOD side of the house. I came on out of EOD and aspire to get onto the Bomb Squad. Those are the guys that recruited me into the PD in the first place.

Answer 2

You're on the right track. You will first need to find an agency with a full-time team / unit, if that's what you prefer to do full-time. Many agencies in smaller cities have full-time units because of their criminal activity and the need for a full-time unit. For example, I think Raleigh, NC has a full-time team. Miami-Dade, LAPD, NYPD, Dallas, and cities of that size have several full-time teams in a large unit.

Keep in mind, while SWAT and SRT groups are very close and see highly stressful action, they have a LOT of downtime. It's mostly working out, running drills, and waiting. Even when deployed, law enforcement (LE) snipers rarely get a "green" and take a shot; they mostly act as cover and intell gathering. So if you want to do LE, maybe a smaller agency with an on-call team might be more fun - you get to patrol, make arrests, AND respond as SWAT / SRT.

You will need to become law enforcement certified for the state and agency you want to go to, then get hired, then put in time; usually it's about 5 years before you are eligible for a specialized unit or promotion. Going for a specialized unit depends more on your skills, performance in the selection process, and how good your name is in the department. Brown-nosing isn't brown-nosing, it's planning for your future.

Good Luck and THANK YOU for your service to our country!!!
God Bless and stay safe.

Answer 3

I have a friend who is a detective and I have talked about the benefits of this, while he had not been in the military, he said that the best cops he has worked with have "all" had military experience. He works in a city of about 1 million people. I think that the regular patrol officers make up the swat team.
Good luck, we always need good cops and thanks for your military service. You guys have made us proud.

Answer 4

turning out to be a member of the militia would be a stable concept for you. there are various reward that comprise being interior the militia and being a veteran. you're able to desire to get some stable training and journey at a similar time as interior the militia. Being a veteran could make it easier to get regulation enforcement officer jobs. Veterans get extra desirable factors on civil provider assessments and determination for federal jobs. some regulation enforcement agencies that require applicants to have college will waive some or all of their college standards for veterans. additionally, for various motives, some human beings merely choose to hire qualified veterans on each and every occasion they get the prospect to. you ought to get a school degree in case you are able to. Getting a school degree is between the proper issues which you're able to do. Many regulation enforcement agencies require or want applicants to have college. Having a level would desire to make it easier to get employed by utilising some agencies. some agencies pay their officers extra in the event that they have a level. Having a level may additionally make it easier to get promoted for the time of your profession. Getting regulation enforcement officer jobs is turning out to be further and further aggressive. in spite of the undeniable fact that, all else being equivalent, a candidate this is a veteran with a school degree has a very stable possibility of having employed. proper of luck!

Answer 5

Many agencies, my own included, enjoy the use of former military with their discipline and managerial skills.

A good place to seek employment would be through the various on-line law enforcement websites. My preference for employment notification is through "American Police Beat" which you can get to through the link below.

Best wishes in your endeavors!

Answer 6

Use your network of associates. Contact people you know and find the names of people they know.

When you put in your application, choose references of people known to the jurisdiction you are applying with.

You and I know that we like working with cooperative folks. So your goal is SWAT, but you are applying as an all around good, tough, policeman.

Good luck

Answer 7

I have a few friends that could help you
Go to standardposts.blogspot.com

Jim Heitmeyer will be glad to assist you.