Local /FED LEO and Military Experience.. Questions for LEOs

[AF_INT1N0]

Hey everyone. I have been on THR now for a couple of years. And Ya'll probably know that I'm in the Air Force stationed in NORCAL. Anyway, I am likely to need to find a new job in the next couple of months. Don't worry, I'm not in trouble. Anyway I was looking into going LEO. Probably local to Federal, or straight to Federal. But I had some questions in regards to qualifications. Mostly as to whether or not I'm qualified with the experience I have. See I do have .mil experience, but not MP/ 11B rifleman type experience. Of LEO that crossed over anyone not Police/ Infantry?

Thanks.

AF

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

I wasn't infantry, and I don't think it matters what your specialty was. It's all about how you sell it.

To be totally honest, every 4-year college graduate is miles ahead of you anyway, in the eyes of those who do the hiring. Expect lots of lip service from the hiring guys in regard to your military experience, but little real respect for it.

One thing you're about to find is that outside of "feel good" ceremonies and memorial-building, veterans are treated like garbage in this country. We love to put up monuments and memorials, but those don't pay any vet's bills. Everybody feels good when they slap those "support our troops" stickers on their cars, but nobody really wants to do it. What those stickers should say is "hire our troops", because that's what we need.

Don't get too hopeful about your military experience counting for you, that way you won't be let down so much (like I was).

 

[fearless leader]

What they want to know is you weren't a BG first. They train you.

Here in FL we had to pass a background check, Physical agility test, and a physical saying you were suitable for heavy work.

In the academy, they teach you High Liabilty subjects like what will be expected of you: Driving, shooting, searching, in defensive tactics, first responder, physical training, etc. Our academy was about 640 hours.

At some point they give you, normally, a lie detector test in which they will ask some brutally frank questions.

From the people they have that pass that, they select the next employees.

Military training is a plus, because they know you know how to look professional an take orders, but not required.

 

[Erik]

Qualifications vary quite a bit from no college, to some college, to a 4 year degree as a minimum. Military experience is always a plus, regardless of the type. Veterans preference points go a long way at times.

Federally, begin (and likely end) your search here:

http://www.usajobs.gov/

I recommend playing around with the search engine, submitting a resume, and checking back once a week or every other week at most. The reason for checking back often is that while most job posting are for extended periods of time, some come and go fairly quickly, and you;d hate to find out that you just missed out on applying for a job you'd be a good fit for.

Another hint: (applies to federal, state, and local hiring) have your stuff in order and ready to send electronic or hard copy versions out as necessary. You don't want to log on Thursday night, find out you have a Friday post mark deadline, and cannot find somoething required.

Good luck.

 

[Erik]

Oh, and if you;d heard that you should limit your resumes to only a few locations, forget it. Shotgun them out and make decisions as offers come in. It is better to have the option to say no than wish you could say yes.

 

[GRIZ22]

If you don't have LE experience or a Bachelor's Degree but do have military the best Federal job to try for now is the Border Patrol. The Border patrol has found less problems with military guys and girls as they know how to take orders. BP school has been cut to 16 weeks and they cut out the 6 and 10 month tests (if you failed these you were out). They are currently hiring by the hundreds.

They have their basic school in NM and SC I believe. You will have to learn enough Spanish to do your job. It will remind you of Basic or Tech School, formations' marching to class etc but nothing you can't handle.

You need to be sure that you have a good credit rating with any Federal job. People who are always dodging bill collectors are likely to be the same people who take bribes.

Once you get a few years with BP you may be able to qualify for other jobs.

BP is the only Federal LE job that actually seeks out veterans. I say this having retired with 27 years as a Federal LEO.

Good luck.

 

[AF_INT1N0]

I do have a degree. I have my BA in Management.
I am also currently working on my masters, but I just started so I'm not exactly sure what in.

 

[GRIZ22]

Having your degree opens up a lot more. Agencies don't really care too much what your degree is in just as long as you have one. I've seen agents hired and promoted with degrees in History, Economics, Phys Ed and everything else. Having a Masters doesn't really do anymore for you unless management wants it to. Secret Service, ICE, DEA, Federal Air Marshal and all the other Criminal Investigator (Job Series 1811) jobs are possibilities. As Erik said Fed jobs are listed on USA jobs. Customs and Border Protection also has Officers (used to be Inspectors) and last I looked have an Air and Marine Branch. Do you have anything to do with FLIR, radar, etc. An Air Interdiction Officer for CBP is a possibilitity. All of these jobs have law enforcement retirement. You will get your base pay plus 25% Adminstratively Uncontrollable Overtime or Availability Pay with alomost all of them.

The agent jobs (1811 series) are better as they go to a journeyman GS13, all have availability pay, etc. Most of the other jobs go to a journeyman GS11.

As Erik said you are better off with the shotgun approach. Do not be concerned if you want or decide to take a diffrent job. The idea is to get into the system. Proportionally they do more more hiring from within. You may not want to be an 1811 for Departement of Agriculture the rest of your life but it's better to get into the system than wait for the job you want which may never come your way applying from the outside. Don't feel you have to stay where you are if something better comes along. I know guys that had 4 different jobs in 5 years. No one really holds anything against you for leaving for something you want. If they do, too bad you already have the other job. Put as much as you can afford in the Thrift Savings Plan for retirement.

You can also stay in the AF Reserve or Air Guard. Being in the Reserves is the only part time job that upstages your LE job. Some managers don't like it but they have to comply with the law. I'll be collecting my pension from teh Army Reserve in 2 years and that's on top of my LE pension.

 

[Javelin]

Expect lots of lip service from the hiring guys in regard to your military experience, but little real respect for it.

One thing you're about to find is that outside of "feel good" ceremonies and memorial-building, veterans are treated like garbage in this country. We love to put up monuments and memorials, but those don't pay any vet's bills. Everybody feels good when they slap those "support our troops" stickers on their cars, but nobody really wants to do it. What those stickers should say is "hire our troops", because that's what we need.

Don't get too hopeful about your military experience counting for you, that way you won't be let down so much (like I was).

No apologies needed for that information what-so-ever. You are exactly right Saber. The truth is that the degenerates exist and many will actually hate you for your service.

I am not sure why nor do I care to even speculate. Come back after 2 Iraq deployments and you will find your co-workers (aka office hens) asking sarcastically if your knee acting up is a "war-wound" and cackle together about it. Or if your wife was with you on your last OIF Deployments (no I am not kidding it was asked by at least three different people on various times!).

The fact is, people are clueless, no one has any idea of what you did and really no one cares (which is why they are clueless). I have found THR and the gun community are for the most part good people. So are former vets. Don't let it get to you though. You served your country and so be proud of yourself. In the civilian world you are in it for yourself just so you know the rules. Its cut-throat and there is no loyalty to others or even your business (trust me they will cut you loose and your company will fire you if it helps their bottom line). And that yellow ribbon, pink ribbon, blue ribbon, whatever that you see on 99% of the vehicles (usually followed up by an american flag sticker) is their way of showing conformity and possibly to manipulate their sorry sucker out of a traffic ticket.

But do not become sour about it. Like I said. Learn the rules before you get out.

 

[GRIZ22]

Expect lots of lip service from the hiring guys in regard to your military experience, but little real respect for it.


That's true with the exception of the Border Patrol in Federal jobs.

Check Veteran's Preference in some states. They all have different rules. Some give extra points on the test, some absolute preference (vets get hired before non-vets as long as they passed the test).

The truth is that the degenerates exist and many will actually hate you for your service.


I've found that true. I think it's a case of you did something they were terrified to even try.

 

[dm1333]

Actually, if you can't speak Spanish the BP will send you to a school to learn. The one downside to a BP job is that the first tour is always on the southern border. Nice if you like the desert, not so nice if you think Alaska is heaven.

 

[GRIZ22]

Actually, if you can't speak Spanish the BP will send you to a school to learn. The one downside to a BP job is that the first tour is always on the southern border.

Spanish classes are and have always been part of Border Patrol training. Keep in mind taht the bulk of Border Patrol Agents are not from border states and never spoke any Spanish before getting on BP. BP has been teaching Spanish for a long time and have teaching down pat. Study, do what they tell you and you can get through it. As long a you're in the USAF DLI had a nice home study course with tapes and a book. Check out the Education Center on base and they can fix you up. I knew several agents who did it and they were able to learn eough to ask simple questions and give commands.

Used to be you always had to go to TX, NM, AZ, or CA when you started. that generally is the case as that's where the bulk of the USBP is. I did meet a guy who went to FL straight from the academy. It happens but the border states are most likely.