I'm looking to go into the force, and have seen people get hired with college degrees, and my brother who has a military background was turned down. I'm either going to get my degree in criminal justice, or join the army as an MP. So what do you think? Please only respond if you actually have helpful feedback. Thanks in advace.
2007-10-27 10:37:02 · 10 answers · asked by Steve 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Todays law enforcement agencies want a degree. It will also help you get ahead once hired. You may feel silly riding in a car with a degree for a while, but when promotions come, you will be at the top of the list.
2007-10-27 10:42:26 · answer #1 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Steve, keep in mind that the law enforcement profession is tough to break into...I will tell you this being a MP in the military and comparing that to being a civilian police officer is two totally different things..They are nowhere close to even being the same job. However, the discipline and team work you would learn in the military would benefit you in other ways..
The college role is always smart also due to the fact that you can use your degree in other ways if you decide that law enforcement just wasnt for you...I'll tell you this..I would much rather have a recruit on the street who has real life experience rather than no life experience and tons of book knowledge..Nothing wrong with either but its a matter of personal choice..
As far as your brother getting turned down in his hiring process..its not unusual and I would recommend he apply again...Sometimes it takes 2-3 times of going thru the process before you can get hired...Lots of people dont make it through hiring processes and there are lots of different reasons why...But I have seen departments hire former military, college grads & people with niether a degree or military all in the same hiring process..So its more of a fact of how you do on your interview and evals than it is of your education or experience..also remember that most civilian police departments will not give you any points or credit during thier hiring processes for military training...but they will for college
2007-10-27 18:30:46 · answer #2 · answered by udontneed2know 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There area a lot of reasons that people get turned down. On the average in the US only 15% of applicants make it.
There is a change going on with hiring in most of the US.
In the recent past the call was for more and more college. Most large and suburban departments require 60 semester hours (AA) and some 120 hours (Bachelors). They usually do not care what your major was. (I have always believed that a liberal arts education is best to start.)
Within the last 3 years I have noticed a number of departments waiving the education for the same amount of time in the military.
The old timers always wanted ex military, for their ability to follow orders, team work ethic and the discipline learned, but that changed after the draft was ended.
Good luck
2007-10-27 17:57:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I work for the police department where I live and can tell you that hands down, they LOVE military folks...from a starting out point of view, i would choose military service over college degrees simply b/c the atmosphere is completely different. While college is great for long term, "detective", type work...the military lifestyle is more similar to what you might find when just starting out in most police depts...hope that helps shed some light on that for ya....
2007-10-27 18:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by (R-TX) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More and more law enforcement agencies are looking for recruits with college. I would think military experience would count. But a great deal depends on the department.
2007-10-27 18:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best answer would be both. chosing to be an MP is a very smart choice. However, like most businesses, they would prefer someone with a degree with no exp over someone who doesn't have a degree but has comparable job experience.
2007-10-27 17:54:30 · answer #6 · answered by AJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You almost need to be a Lawyer to be a Police Officer now a days. So College and a degree are thirty times as important as Military Experience.
2007-10-27 17:44:01 · answer #7 · answered by zclifton2 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
a lot of police agency like to hire people who have college degree/educations.
2007-10-27 17:46:37 · answer #8 · answered by jenny 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sheriffs tend to favor military while state and municipalities want college.
People with Honorable discharges use college degrees as toilet paper!
2007-10-27 17:46:26 · answer #9 · answered by csn0331 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
probably both for the larger and more progressive departments and agencies.
2007-10-27 18:05:55 · answer #10 · answered by Mon-chu' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋