What do you think about my plan?

[retired]

If you have never fired a gun before, you might want to wait until you get into an academy. They will teach you the right way to do it and you won't have any bad habits you may have learned on your own or from one of your friends to unlearn.

I had only shot a revolver a few times in the late 1960s while taking a class at the Rio Hondo Academy (I was a worker, not in the academy). I didn't shoot again until I was hired by my former dept. in 1976 and I shot expert throughout my career (275 to 289). Not bragging, just trying to show the instructors know what they are doing.

If you are set on getting some practice, go thru a NRA program or find an authorized instructor with a lot of references and who has been doing it for awhile. Do not just go to a range and start shooting. My .02 cents.

LASD would probably be interested in your language ability also and they pay extra for it.

[gorn5150]

Great news that you are going to become a citizen. I might have missed it but I didn't see any mention as to how long you have been in the Country.

The reason I am wondering that is that you have to have a High School diploma, GED or Degree from an accredited school. Sounds like you are working on the Degree but you will need the diploma or GED to even get in the door.

[PandaLuv]

Thanks for all the input once again.

I haven't got into a fight since I was 17. There were no arrests made by police. The only record of it is in my previous two high schools. The whole reason why I fought because I was sick of being harassed. I was jumped by 10 people as well, and fought a couple of drug dealers that just decided to harass me because I was not into crime or among jocks. But it's not an excuse, since I turned 18, I realized that I am an adult, I am mature enough to walk away from it and consequences of fights are a lot more severe when you are 18.

I did graduate high school in 2008 with 3.5. So I am not worried about that.

Whole thing with weed, I was not really into it. I did it a lot in high school(not much as potheads though). After I graduated high school, I would smoke 2 or 3 times a year. I stopped all together because I realized that messing with the law is not a great idea, especially when I want to be a law abiding American citizen. Plus I got bored of feeling like useless slacker. I am really over weed.

I became very serious about LE career last summer. If I have to wait few years before I get my degree and weed to be cleared out as a f*** up. I am ok with it. I gotta get myself in a better shape anyways. I got muscle but my cardio and running suck lol

[PandaLuv]

PS
I've been in this great country since 08.22.2004

[PandaLuv]

If you have never fired a gun before, you might want to wait until you get into an academy. They will teach you the right way to do it and you won't have any bad habits you may have learned on your own or from one of your friends to unlearn.

I had only shot a revolver a few times in the late 1960s while taking a class at the Rio Hondo Academy (I was a worker, not in the academy). I didn't shoot again until I was hired by my former dept. in 1976 and I shot expert throughout my career (275 to 289). Not bragging, just trying to show the instructors know what they are doing.

If you are set on getting some practice, go thru a NRA program or find an authorized instructor with a lot of references and who has been doing it for awhile. Do not just go to a range and start shooting. My .02 cents.

LASD would probably be interested in your language ability also and they pay extra for it.

I only shot guns 3 times in my whole life.
I am getting myself a handgun next week actually.
Btw you are the first time who recommended not to learn on my own.

[Will Goes Boing]

I only shot guns 3 times in my whole life.
I am getting myself a handgun next week actually.
Btw you are the first time who recommended not to learn on my own.

Now I'm going to be the 2nd person to tell you not to learn on your own. In fact, don't even let your friends teach you. In the academy they say it's best when a person has never fired a gun before, because they don't have any bad habits. Just the trigger alone, has several different elements to it.

As for the LEO position, all I can say is, go to college and get a degree. You already know it's competitive. Right now unless you're a college graduate or a military vet, you don't have much of a chance of getting hired.

My other advice is.... leave yourself open to other options. There are a lot of steps in the hiring process, and many people do not make it. And lets say you do make it, you might not make it through the academy. So leave yourself a backup plan, don't put all of your hopes and dreams into this alone.

[Pelicandriver]

Which degree?

I also recommend sticking with the Community College. I'd recommend a degree in computer science and or accounting. Both of those can be useful in LE and both have potential in the civilian world.

Remember, even if you get hired and get through an academy, everybody is just one good fight or crash away from a disability retirement. If that happens, a CJ degree won't be of much use. You can always take a few CJ classes that interest you.

You may also want to check out the Coast Guard Reserve. Don't know if it's the same now, but when I was on active duty, if one enlisted as a reserve, your rate (MOS) was Port Security. You spent about six months going through boot camp and "A" school. That would give you some training and experience. It would look good on the resume while still giving you the chance to finish school.

[PandaLuv]

Now I'm going to be the 2nd person to tell you not to learn on your own. In fact, don't even let your friends teach you. In the academy they say it's best when a person has never fired a gun before, because they don't have any bad habits. Just the trigger alone, has several different elements to it.

As for the LEO position, all I can say is, go to college and get a degree. You already know it's competitive. Right now unless you're a college graduate or a military vet, you don't have much of a chance of getting hired.

My other advice is.... leave yourself open to other options. There are a lot of steps in the hiring process, and many people do not make it. And lets say you do make it, you might not make it through the academy. So leave yourself a backup plan, don't put all of your hopes and dreams into this alone.

Sorry I meant to say that he was NOT the first person.
I was told before but honestly I will most likely take up a class to do so.




And I am just not sure what degree to do. Navy is my back up plan

[trendar5]

It would be very rare for a 22-23 year old to get hired right now, even if they never smoked pot. There are too many 26-32 applicants who are squared away, with a 4-year degree, married etc. who have demonstrated leadership ability in the private sector or military or were laid off from a PD recently. You should make LEO a long-term goal, not right now.

[flintheart]

Thanks for providing this information.

[PandaLuv]

It would be very rare for a 22-23 year old to get hired right now, even if they never smoked pot. There are too many 26-32 applicants who are squared away, with a 4-year degree, married etc. who have demonstrated leadership ability in the private sector or military or were laid off from a PD recently. You should make LEO a long-term goal, not right now.

that hit me like a ton of bricks, Rome wasn't built in one day. Thank you, just now I am gonna focus on working, going to school, staying away from trouble, not doing drugs (was not planning to do drugs anyways) and get myself in a good physical shape. I have been thinking about Army Reserve or Navy as well. I don't know yet, but again thank you for all the input.