Law enforcement...reserve/full-time?

[AlexBL94]

Hello everyone! Looking for a little advice from the vast wealth of experience in this Forum.

So quick background on me: was an Explorer for a SoCal agency for about four years, then went straight into the Marine Corps out of high school and am about five months from getting out. I'm currently in backgrounds with two agencies in the LA area.

I've convinced myself for a while that my path is to go straight into a PD as a full-time officer as soon as I'm out of the military, but lately I've been having second thoughts. Namely, I realize that I'm only 22 and I've never really considered other paths. As much as I have a passion for law enforcement and loved being an Explorer, I also have a strong interest in medicine.

I've narrowed down my options to two. Either I continue in the full-time process and, assuming I'm hired, take a few classes here and there while working and keep my options open. Or I switch to the reserve process and go back to school next year to finish my Bachelor's/take some science courses as a reserve officer in my free time.

I'm married and obviously finances are a consideration, but with the GI Bill I should be fine if I choose not to go full-time immediately.

Any advice or insight is greatly appreciated!

[code_blue]

Only you can determine which path you take. You are young and it is a very competitive market right now, but it is not impossible. You could put yourself through a non-affiliated academy for the academy cert to be more competitive.

For Reserve, you will need to graduate the equivalent level of POST academy modules to qualify for Reserve III, II, or I. See the POST website for what you are able to do under each classification.

Where are you located? Some modular academies are partnered with community colleges and will accept your GI bill so you pay nothing out of pocket and you will receive elective college credits towards your degree.

[Desertdoc]

What kind of medicine? You do not list this as a passion as you have LE. You list it as an interest. I need it narrowed down in order to give the best guidance I can.

I would say this, DO NOT be a practitioner at any level just to get a better pay check. I have seen this stated MANY times. It's BS.

What is your passion? What are your dreams? What DRIVES you?

Go do that. You will be much happier and thank me in 25 years when you retire.

[AlexBL94]

What kind of medicine? You do not list this as a passion as you have LE. You list it as an interest. I need it narrowed down in order to give the best guidance I can.

I would say this, DO NOT be a practitioner at any level just to get a better pay check. I have seen this stated MANY times. It's BS.

What is your passion? What are your dreams? What DRIVES you?

Go do that. You will be much happier and thank me in 25 years when you retire.

In a nutshell, growing up I always had a passion to become a doctor (EM, IM) or go into LE. By 12 years old I had sought out and met a doctor that was a reserve police officer and I thought I would like that path. When I got to high school, I discouraged myself from med school because science/math was difficult and I didn't know how to apply myself in class. So I decided to stick with LE.

Now that I'm older and more mature, I truly believe if I apply myself I have a shot at med school.

[TRICKSTER]

If you do decide to go the LE route, you should be able use your GI bill to put yourself through the academy and even receive BHA. Crank out the academy full time in 6 months.

[the42cop]

The hiring process itself can often be very long and it isn't a bad idea to start going to school right away for something you are interested in besides law enforcement. There really isn't a downside to going the reserve route first, except finances. The GI bill helps out a lot though. Any schooling you get is only going to make you even more marketable for LE if you later decide to go full time. I can't stress enough how important being able to write is for the job.

We have a reserve at my department who should be full time... He's awesome at the job. He chooses not to though, because he does medical equipment sales. He teaches doctors how to install fake hips and stuff and ensures they're doing it right during surgery. As you can imagine a full time cop job would be a huge pay decrease! He seems to have the best of both worlds, because he comes out and works whenever he wants, avoids all the admin bull**** and makes significantly more money than he would working for us.

Another factor to consider is that law enforcement isn't for everyone. That isn't a slam at all. I know a lot of really amazing people who are smart and skilled and would make amazing cops... But find out it just isn't for them. Having gone through 2 Law enforcement academies and a corrections academy, I have seen this more than a few times. A LOT of the people I went to my various academies with either didn't pass FTO or later decided it just wasn't for them. They invested a LOT of time into it first though and quit their old jobs.

A lot of law enforcement is more about "perceived power" than any sort of real authority. I know a lot of my army buddies who were amazing soldiers, who would make awful cops.
It takes a special breed (maybe crazy?) to put up with the completely thankless job of dealing with an ungrateful public, lack of political backing and mentally ill administrators. No seriously. Some of those folks are dangers to themselves and others and should probably be on a 72 hour hold! My point is that it isn't a bad idea to be a reserve first and see how it fits.

If you have any other questions feel free to check out the "Blue Blogs" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bluebloggers). There are several law enforcement bloggers who post our stuff on there and "liking" the page gets you updates any time one of them makes a new post. It's better than having to shop around. You can also check out my blog if you like (www.wannabeacop.com). Good luck bro!




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[Samuelx]

If you want both worlds and primarily be sworn LE, then perhaps work towards being a Tactical medic/paramedic for a SWAT team (no guarantees but it can be done - some larger agencies may allow you to be that full-time, as opposed to a collateral duty).

If you want both worlds and primarily be non-sworn/civilian/REMF (haha jk), then go MD and maybe reserve LE.

In today's world, I'd probably go with the second option and maybe not even a reserve at all.

[micro911]

I had a choice of being an LEO or Marine Corps pilot. My agency's offer came first and I took it. There was always what if, but I have no regret about my choice. I am retired now and enjoying it very much.

I don't know what kind of medicine field you are interested in. If you want to pursue the medical field like being a doctor or PA or even a nurse, it will be hard on you staying even in the reserves. You may have to dedicate full time on your study. Married life may not be easy, either.

[Desertdoc]

Do the best of both worlds. Go CHP and wind up on H-20 or other CHP rotary craft as a Observer/Paramedic.

Do the academy first, get through probation. THEN go through a Paramedic program. But most require you to be an EMT first. Not good at math? Well you need to be able to calculate drug dosages, infusion rates, burn percentages, tidal volumes, blood gases, do it in your sleep, in the snow, heat, rain. You will not be in a nice, warm medical office. Chemistry, biology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, cellular A+P, cardiac cycle, second messenger theory, absolute refractory, heart blocks, acid base balance, the Henderson-Hasslebach Equation, blah blah blah. Its about 2 years of your life. Apply the above to medical or DO school as well only do it for 4-5 years and far more in-depth.

Work part-time as a Paramedic for 2 years. Then make the move to the CHP Paramedic program.

Do you have a science/biology based degree? No? If you want to be an MD or DO you need one.

And plan on spending the next 11-12 years with your nose in a book and 100's of thousands of dollars in debt.

How does all that sound?

You REALLY have to want this life. It is not for everyone, no matter how bad you want it. Take stock in your life, and be honest with yourself AND your wife. She is in this too and will be there right along side you going through the ups and downs.

[1911su16b870]

FWIW your path to FT or PT (Reserve) Law Enforcement kind of runs along the same lines.

Honorable separation from USMC -> Police Academy -> F/T employment with your 1st or 2nd choice of agencies (one with a reserve program - yes this does matter - e.g. location and family supports you etc.) -> get through field training -> get through probation and NOW its up to you what to do: continue as FT LE while working on your advanced degree or shift to Reserve with that agency.

[drpepper]

If you got the brain power go to medical
School.
It's an immensely rewarding career but requires a lot of dedication to make it through. You can always fall back to LE if the medicine path is too difficult or not for you. It'll be harder to do LE and then try to switch to medicine.
The medical route is long enough without detours

[AlexBL94]

All,

I truly appreciate all of the insight and responses I have received from you. It has been thought provoking and a lot of good information to consider. I guess at the end of the day, it will take some soul searching from me to decide.

Admittedly as someone who as destined my path to LE since high school it's strange to consider another career path, but it's something that has been looming on my mind now that I have a family and I see the direction LE is taking especially in this state.

I think going the Reserve and college route is probably the best option for the upcoming year. That way, if I decide I'm more interested in full-time LE I can just apply and go through the full academy. And if I feel I've matured in my study habits and academic effort and I want to continue focusing on medicine, I can do that and stay the Reserve path.

Again thank you to all!

[SOCOgunguy]

Become a leo, be the best, promote, join special task forces, play with cool toys.

[1911su16b870]

Finish USMC. GI bill to get your L1 reserve POST certificate. Apply to agencies that you want to work with and have a reserve program.

[gotthelife4u]

As a current Reserve Officer I can give you some advice. If you really think you want to make this your full time career I would do anything and everything you can do to get hired full time. Going reserve is great if you want to get your feet wet and or you have a good full time gig that you don't want to lose. If I could do it all over I would have attempted to go full time and total bypassed going reserve.

Now seeing as how you are still fairly young it might do you well to get some more "life experience" before you apply. I know everyone is different but at least up here in Nor Cal most agencies like seeing someone a bit older with a good career history applying. I am not trying to discourage you but that is just what I have seen and heard from recruiters.