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V_Ojeda80,  Hello, and thanks for your interest in milityary law enforcement!!  Before I continue, I just want to make you aware that my opinion may be a bit biased based on my past.

Now for some background!  I served for four years of active duty (enlisted) with the United States Air Force in the career field of Security Forces.  I will tell you that I did train with some Army folks over my years.  In fact, I worked with several prior Army enlisted officers during my tour of duty, all of which were fantastic leaders and professional Security Forces officers.  I speak only for my experiences in the Air Force.  When I enlisted in 2004, I went through 6 weeks of basic military training (They call it BMT) at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.  Following the BMT, I was assigned for training at the Security Forces Academy for 10 weeks.  I believe now the training for SF is around 13 weeks and the addition encompasses more general air base defense training (more or less, infantry).  After I allowed my enlistment to expire, I immediatley sought training civilian sector and enrolled in Basic Law Enforcement Training, which I easily passed, and I was hired on as a Police Officer for a local hospital.  Currently my paperwork has been submitted and I await the approval stamp from the state for my swearing-in.

Training topics included anti-terrorism, patrol techniques, basic run-downs of SFST (standardized field sobriety testing), proper deployments and roles of K-9's (referred to in the SF academy as MWDs, or military working dogs), physical apprehension and restraint techniques (or PART), building and vehicle searches, interview techniques, crisis management, cordon operations (basically roping off crime scenes or disaster/incident areas), weapons training (during my time through, M-9, M-4 carbine, M-203, M-240, and M-249, along with hand grenade throwing and a M18A claymore demonstration), PT, PT, and more PT.  The academy taught more than plenty interesting and engaging classes and lectures along with lab work and practical exercises.  On the other hand, the academy taught more than plenty dry, hard to understand, and dreadfully boring classes, which unfortunately are vital to the career (i.e. UCMJ and military law classes).  Be prepared to drink lots and lots of water.

Training was interesting and the facilities provided were well above standard compared to my training in the civilian sector.  Classrooms were stocked and kept very clean and organized, and with the exception of a few instructors, most of them tried to keep the class involved, educated, and even in some cases, entertained (learning is much easier when it's fun).  Training vehicles unfortunately were as neglected as most of the rest of the vehicles I encountered over my enlistment (being as most of them are from 1999 and beyond).

Other branches I encountered during my training were USMC and USN trainees, and only in some occasions (USN Master-at-Arms training was doing OC cert when we did PART).  Generally speaking and from my experiences only, military law enforcement training is rather standard across the board with a few exceptions here and there.  For example of a similarity, we as military police personnel are trained to enforce the UCMJ, but under no circumstances are we allowed to enforce civilian law (posse comitatus act), since the US does not run a guardarmie.  An example of the differences would be the fact that the USCG and the USN runs drug interdiction on the ocean, whereas Army and Air Force personnel perform law enforcement and infantry-like duties.

The National Guard is a fantastic opportunity and you will recieve good training and experience along with a fantastic resume building career-in-progress.  Generally, civilian employers enjoy having prior military work for them due to the discipline and respect that they will conduct themselves with.

Now for just a little bit of cloud to go with that silver lining.  Currently, the USAF is leaning away from law enforcement work and more towards asset security and air base defense (again, infantry work).  There has been rumor circulating for a while about the badge being removed from the uniform, however I don't see this happening any time soon.  On deployment, SF members perform duties very similiar to the US Army MPs, mainly dealing with perimeter defense, short range patrols "outside the wire", and convoy security.  There are, of course, other duties, but all the folks I had dealings with mentioned that as their deployed jobs.  Unfortunatley, Security Forces discipline is much more strict and severe, due to the "setting the standard" mentality; which I would attribute to the fact that there are a healthy amount of bad apples in the bunch.  Be aware that if you are a party animal or wild child with security forces, it can and probably will fall down on your shoulders rather heavily.

I don't say this to disprove your choice or decision, but I do want you to be aware of this.  Tech school for security forces is where trainees wash out to.  If you can't pass your tests in other tech schools, you get to pick security forces or services.  Both require a low score on the G (general) portion of the ASVAB, being 35.

Now, for the ending in a good note.  I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the USAF and would not have done it differently if I were given the chance.  Long work hours, rotating shift work, and the high probability that you'll work every single weekend or holiday you actually want off is what you'll work, but being the career field I believe I belong in, I wouldn't have it any other way.  As far as training, there are still things I learned the USAF way and found that so effective I've taken it as either habit or muscle memory.  Surely if you join any branch for challenging training, experience, and a chance to get out there and experience change and independance, you'll be very happy.  Coming from being in the military to going to training and working in a civilian environment was a culture shock, and I'm actually still deprogramming.

Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to be as detailed as possible.  There are a few things I wrote here that I wished I had been told or made aware of (not that it would have changed my decision) before I joined up.

V_Ojeda80 says ...

Lestat5891 I want to thank you for the information you provided. It describes the US Air Force Security Forces real well. Another question for you what is the difference between security forces and security forces combat arms.  I recently saw a recruting posting for the Air National Guard with that topic. Is it more like security forces doing battle field duties, like convoy escorting,or transporting? Thank you again for the information is very insightful. V. Ojeda.

You're most welcome!  The difference between SF and CATM is that combat arms trains and maintains the bases firearms.  The range is run by CATM instructors, the weapons are maintained and repaired by CATM, and CATM also provides the training for firearms quals.  SF does the law enforcement/security/ABD duty.

CATM requires that you are eligible for re-training or cross-training (different for each airman, it's a time in service type of thing).  The school is several weeks and takes place at Lackland.  From what I hear, it's actually quite competitive.

And yes, you're somewhat right.  Security forces spends a lot of time doing infantry type duties.  I do believe we're also starting to detention and corrections type duties as well.

I think he meand FT. Leonardwood, Missouri, not Mississippi.