Top Ten Reason Service Members Make Great Police Officers

Exiting military service members have a great career option that fits well with most military skills: a career as a police officer. Police departments look for many of the skills that come naturally to veterans of the armed forces. In many ways, protecting America’s borders and interests abroad, is great preparation for protecting Americans in their towns and cities here at home. Here are ten reasons why service members make great police officers: •Discipline: It takes discipline to handle grueling police shifts patrolling city streets and responding to emergencies; service members understand the importance of discipline•Firearms: Experience handling firearms is a must for police officers and service members, particularly those in the combat arms, know how to handle weapons•Hierarchy: Service members understand how to take follow orders from their superiors – this structure and culture is very similar on the police force•Stress: Being a police officer is stressful and for service members who have been in combat, experienced long deployments or worked long hours in the military, stress is nothing new•Sacrifice: Veterans of the armed services understand that sacrifice is sometimes necessary for the good of the unit; police officers, who work unusual shifts and face real dangers, face this kind of sacrifice for the safety of the community•Vocation: You might say that people don’t choice to be Soldiers or police officers, but that they’re called to the career as a vocation. One doesn’t join the force of the military to make money, but to serve•Teamwork: It’s possible for a school teacher to work alone and follow his own vision, but not so for police officers or members of the military; veterans understand that if you don’t work as a team, people can get hurt. There is nothing in the civilian world like the bond between police officers•Desk Jockey: Many people in the military enjoy the freedom of being out in the field instead of cooped up in an office. Police officers by and large are out in the communities meeting people and solving problems – desk jockeys need not apply•Training: Members of the military understand that to get the job done right, you need to rehearse operations endless times in training; sweating during training saves lots of bloodletting later. Police officers are on the same page!•Courage: Very few jobs ask an individual to put his life on the line day-in and day-out. Police officers and service members understand this expectation. Members of the military who are looking to pursue a career as a police officer should be sure to go after a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Most police departments these days require their officers to have a four-year degree. While you serve in the military you can use your military tuition assistance benefits to study for a career as a police officer. There are even a number of online universities that offer criminal justice degrees specifically for members of the U.S. Armed forces who are on active-duty.