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I'm scheduled to seperate from the Marine Corps after 4 yrs of being an MP and am considering getting out to work for the Sheriff's Office back home in Brevard County. All the Marine's I work with say I should stay in, mainly because of job security and money. All the civilians I work with, most of which are former Deputies/ PD cops/ MPs, say I should stay in because outside the military you deal much more serious crimes/ criminals on a regular basis and, of course, the money. Don't get me wrong I like the Marine Corps, and my job, but I'm not sure I want to miss out on something I might actually love to do everyday because the pay is better where I'm at now. Since I have a wife and a 10 mo old son, I know I can't just go "following my dreams" before I think of them first, but it's really not that much safer when at any moment I can get recalled from my nice comfy MP job to deploy to Iraq.

My question is have any LEOs out there made the transition from MP to LE, and how did it/ is it working out for you? (pay, benefits, safety, job security, impact on your fam, etc.) Thanks for the input ladies and gents.

yes i made the transition, its not going to be easy. Have a nest egg to tap into if you are going to make the jump to civilian LE. Its best to do it after a deployment when the bank account is at its most full.

Do understand that you will not walk right into LE...it will take some time.  The selection process is brutal. 

And yes, the military keeps a roof over your house and food in your stomach.  But the downside of thinking of it as security eventually institutionalizes you....sooner or later, it will be 2 kids or 3...and then the prospect of starting over moves farther and father away.  Then you get totally dependant on the military and lose track of other dreams.

Im glad I did full time Army service, but getting off active duty and going civilian LE is the best professional decision I ever made. Civilian law enforcement so beats the military in terms of a career. Its not even close. 

I've been an MP in the Army Reserves for about 6 yrs now...it's great because I can do civilian police work as well.  I am still in the Army and I am also with Marion County Sheriff Department  in Indianapolis, IN.  So I think that you should go marine reserves, just to stay in, and also be a civilian police officer.

But he should be able to go Marine Reserves if he's active duty Marines right?? At least that's how it is in the Army.

Hahaha at first I double checked my post to make sure I didn't put something odd...:-)

I think its cause I read his post and he was sayin how he was army, so I got side tracked.

Once I was done with the Corps, I was done.....no reserves for me. Besides, I couldnt join them anyways, I got ruled 40% disabled, so I can never join again now.

I was in the same situation 10yrs ago. I had just picked up Sgt a few months prior to my EAS and for the first time considered staying in. I had always wanted to be a civilian police officer and knew that was my calling so I went for it. The pay was about 40 less every two weeks and now I was paying for rent/electric. Although it was an initial struggle financially, it was a great choice over all. I miss the Marines, the friends I made there just do not compare out here but it was the right choice for me. Now, 10 years later, the pay is way better and I am finally comfortable and love what I do.

Stay in the military. Law enforcement is not what it is cracked up to be. Consider a career as a fire fighter if you are determined to exit the military. My son is a career soldier (U.S. Army) and is 7 years from retirement. I encouraged him to join the military and not consider a law enforcement career. You will make the right choice. I appreciate your service to our country.

chiefdennis says ...

Stay in the military. Law enforcement is not what it is cracked up to be. Consider a career as a fire fighter if you are determined to exit the military. My son is a career soldier (U.S. Army) and is 7 years from retirement. I encouraged him to join the military and not consider a law enforcement career. You will make the right choice. I appreciate your service to our country.

Curious why you think this?

Mags says ...

chiefdennis says ...

Stay in the military. Law enforcement is not what it is cracked up to be. Consider a career as a fire fighter if you are determined to exit the military. My son is a career soldier (U.S. Army) and is 7 years from retirement. I encouraged him to join the military and not consider a law enforcement career. You will make the right choice. I appreciate your service to our country.

 

Curious why you think this?

I wont speak for the Chief, but I will say that if I were to interpret someone saying this based on my experiences in both the military and LE, its because that you have much more support in every way in the military. Youre a federal employee, from day one you have a dedicated "family" (that is often moer your family than your blood family) who's sole purpose is to take care of you so you want for nothing, you get outstanding educational opportunities, you have the opportunity to be apart of history in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Phillippines, the Horn of Africa, the economic downturn doesnt effect your job, you stay in outstanding physical condition, etc etc etc.

The problem is, most people who join the military outgrow it and have that "I want to make it on my own" mentality, and it takes over. Or you eventually get tired of being deployed every other year. I felt that law enforcement was a natural next step for me when I left the regular Army. LE is still service, youre apart of a team, making a difference, working in an environment that challenges your mind and body each day, and though they are not as numerous as in the military, every now and then you meet good bros that have the same "sheepdog" mentality as you do.

I respect and admire career military men though...our nation needs them, and we are seeing right now the most experienced combat troops in our nation's history.

chiefdennis says ...

Mags. When I entered law enforcement in 1972 it seemed like a good career choice. A few years prior to retirement it seemed like a terrible choice and I contribute some of my feelings to burnout. In the case of my son I told him to retire from the military and then consider a move to law enforcement.

You will burn out quicker in the military though depending on ur job.

I havent had a christmas since 2004. In 05 I got stuck in training and 06 and 07 I was in Iraq and 09 I was stuck on duty. I spent 4 years in and missed countless holidays, where I wasnt even able to call home to family and constantly deploying and not seeing ur family will burn u out quicker than just about anything else this world has to offer......not to mention military pay is terrible.

scotc130lm says ...

I made the transition, but it is good to apply 6 months prior to ETS and don't just apply to the sheriff's department.  At least have a back-up to the sheriff's department.  Second truly look at yourself.  Make sure you qualify, look at your credit report and anything derogatory that could hurt you in the background investigation.  If you find something, stay in and wait.  I don't know how many I interviewed that got out thinking it was a cake walk to enter the police force and then find out they didn't qualify.  Also don't just look at just city/county organization, look into federal agencies.  If you are not ready finacially then look into the reserves, that way if the agency takes longer then you can at least ask for some temporary Title 10 time while waiting on a job.

Good Luck

Finally someone else mentions it....that is SO true. So many people assume they are going to just walk into a law enforcement gig from the military. As if you "join" a police department like you went to a recruiter, then meps, to join the military. Doesnt work that way. Im  stickler for that...big time. Probably because I know how hard it was to get into LE, having to live off a GI Bill to get the cert in less than 6 months, applying and being turned down, going through my Guard signing bonus in a few months...etc etc.

Military members are used to a CONSIDERABLE safety net that will always be there as long as you are in. You will never truly want for anything. The military is the closest thing our society has to true socialism in how its set up. Once you get out of the military...buddy youre on your own. Its expressly why I dont use the term "civilian" to describe those who are not cops...because Im a civilian too. Unless Im getting up at o dark 30 to run 8 miles, going to light cav gunnery ranges, eating in chow halls 3 times a day where I dont have to spend a dime...ever, and can go to sick call and not worry about insurance....now thats not being a civilian.

One good thing about what Shock said that I had to nod my head too, is you do burn out in the military IF youre not meant to do a long career immersed in it. If you have a more individual mindset.....you probably are not going to want to spend too many years in the regular components of the military, the true individuals (which in the long run make the BEST team oriented individuals in my opinion because of their ability to think on their own) either get out or they go into special operations. I see ALOT of similarities between the mindset and training of SOF individuals and civilian police officers.....in fact, in my last deployment, the SOF guys, the spooky guys (OGA, FBI, B-ATFE...etc etc), and the CIVPOL civilian police officers and civilian PSD guys all shared a compound on the FOB I was stationed at...guarded by a Guard infantry unit whos sole purpose was to support their missions.

Mags says ...

I agree with what some members have said about keeping your options open. I have applied to 3 different departments in my area. It is very competative in the St. Louis market so it has been tough. I have been told that departments definately look at military experience as a plus, but like many have said that doesn't mean you get out of the military and bam you have a LE job. Wonder why someone would even leave the military? Why not retire from the military? I am assuming people get burnt out, but most people get burnt out in any job in my opinion.

Because it gets old. Military more often than not is not a career. Its a chance to join, go fight, and then get out. While most went to college, I went to the Marine Corps and got my degree in life expierence, which has helped me get into LE more than what a CJ degree would.

Alot also go in, go to war and then get the GI Bill and get out and go to college, sure they go to college later, but I think its a good idea, cause not only does Uncle Sam pick up the tab on all of ur tution, he also pays u a lump sum of money every month and they pay for eberything up to a bachelors degree, so u get out into life with a degree and u have no debt and the indicator that ur a veteran or this day and age a combat veteran.

Mags says ...

ShockUSMC87 says ...

Mags says ...

I agree with what some members have said about keeping your options open. I have applied to 3 different departments in my area. It is very competative in the St. Louis market so it has been tough. I have been told that departments definately look at military experience as a plus, but like many have said that doesn't mean you get out of the military and bam you have a LE job. Wonder why someone would even leave the military? Why not retire from the military? I am assuming people get burnt out, but most people get burnt out in any job in my opinion.

 

Because it gets old. Military more often than not is not a career. Its a chance to join, go fight, and then get out. While most went to college, I went to the Marine Corps and got my degree in life expierence, which has helped me get into LE more than what a CJ degree would.

Alot also go in, go to war and then get the GI Bill and get out and go to college, sure they go to college later, but I think its a good idea, cause not only does Uncle Sam pick up the tab on all of ur tution, he also pays u a lump sum of money every month and they pay for eberything up to a bachelors degree, so u get out into life with a degree and u have no debt and the indicator that ur a veteran or this day and age a combat veteran.

Shock that makes sense. I know many vets that have said the same thing. Don't go into the military for a career. Guess that is why I am choosing to hang in there for a LE job. I want a career and unfortunately I am way to old to go in the military, then get money to pay for college and then look for a career. Let me rephrase that, I have a career I just hate it lol!

Yea typically u go in young. Ive done for 4 years and I just recieved my conditional offer for police officer, all I have to do is get my physical and pysch done and Im hired to be a police officer......all the while Im only 22. Im a big advocate of the military, especially if u wanna if u wanna be a police officer, but the older u get the harder it gets.

PSD_TEAM_LEADER says ...

Very true..I went in in my mid 20s so I ended up having sergeants younger than me and it was always hard to swallow having younger smaller guys trying to "raise" me. If youre going to go in in your mid 20s, 30s, etc etc...go in reserve or Guard...that way you limit the "I own your ass"'ness of the military.

And no, military service certainly is not the be all end all of LE. Most cops I know have not done military service, and my agency its rare to meet another deputy who has done military service. For me, if someone has been in the military, if someone has been a jailer, if someone has been a dispatcher, I think those are all good feeders into LE. What I have learned recently, is that I am VERY happy to have a deputy in my unit who is an EMT-P.  I cannot tell you how good it is to have an EMT already on scene during a critical incident.

The military is a good career IF you fast track in rank as an enlisted man, Ive met 20 (yes 20) year old E5s, we had a tanker who was a 24 year old E6, and Ive known infantry Soldiers who were 26-28 year old E7s.....usually those were your type of Soldiers who had been to Air Assault, Airborne, Pathfinder, and Ranger school and whos points were always well past cutoff when boards came around and looked very good for Department of the Army selections for senior NCO ranks. The military is also good if youre are a commissioned officer....they make good money, have alot of responsibility, and honestly they get spoken to and treated like they are grown ups...officers often call each other by first names, and respond to each other like educated businessmen. Enlisted? Be prepared to be spoken down to your whole career unless you make senior NCO. And its the speaking down part I really didnt want to be apart of. Thats just not my thing. Even as an Army Guard NCO now, I dont speak down or belittle Soldiers....Im not paid as nor am I in a Drill Sergeant billet

Sorry if I derailed this thread a little. But again I agree! Most police officers I am friends with do not have any military experience. And my friends who have military experience said they would never ever go back because of some the reasons you stated. Unless you are an officer I don't see much of a career in the military especially if you try and do it at an older age. I am considering the Army National Guard if I don't get on any local departments for the experience at age 31, but also I think it will help get hired afterwards.