OCS or POST, which one should I apply to first?

[Lugiahua]

So, I am a senior student in a college, and planning to become a LEO upon graduation while serving with Guard/Reserve, to do so I need to attend both POST and OCS.

My question is, since it is impossible to attend both at the same time, which one should I work on first? If I get hired in a LEA first then joined Guard/Reserve, would the time I spent in OCS/BOLC has negative effect on my career in LE?

[RickD427]

So, I am a senior student in a college, and planning to become a LEO upon graduation while serving with Guard/Reserve, to do so I need to attend both POST and OCS.

My question is, since it is impossible to attend both at the same time, which one should I work on first? If I get hired in a LEA first then joined Guard/Reserve, would the time I spent in OCS/BOLC has negative effect on my career in LE?

I was in the same boat some 35 years ago. I was also working as a campus police officer while in college and had to get POST certified for that position. I wasn't thinking of a career in LE at that point. I enlisted after graduation and then soon went to OCS and got commissioned. After three years of commissioned service, I decided to return to LE as my main career and to stay in the reserves. For me, it proved to be a very good career move. My agency, with just a few exceptions, has been very tolerant of my military service. They were extremely supportive when I was recalled to active duty following the events of 9/11. I was kinda lucky. I have LE friends who had some very significant problems with their agencies.

The greatest advantage I found was that by gaining management experience in two vastly different organizations, I learned things in the service that benefited my department and vice-versa. The only adverse thing for me was that I resigned from the campus position to enlist, and then started anew with my current agency. After five months enlisted and three years commissioned, my POST certificate was useless and I had to repeat the academy.

The good news is that when I turn 60, I'll be collecting 24% of O-5 pay in addition to my county retirement.

If I were doing it all over again, I would complete POST training and finish my probationary employment period, and then attempt OCS. That will give you access to several career security benefits under federal law. In sum, the federal law requires your civilian employer to provide you with the seniority benefits irrespective of your military absence. If you're doing a 3-5 year service obligation resulting from OCS, that's a big benefit. Plus you have the security of your civilian position as a fall-back. Military life is "feast" or "famine". The "Reductions in Force" that always follow major military actions can be kinda rough. Of the 33 graduating members of my OCS class, only five of us made it to point of being able to collect a pension.

[Lugiahua]

Thank you for the advice.
I actually had ROTC in my freshman year (non-contracted), but dropped out due to class schedule conflict.

I think my best route is to get hired by a LEA first, to determine where I will be reside (which is a big unknown to me at this point, since I am not a family bounded person.), then apply to OCS/OTC.

also heard that Guard allows cadets to choose between 12 weeks or 3 years training, which might enable me to train along with my civilian career.

[Big D]

I would suggest trying the National Guard first for a couple of reasons. First, not a lot of agencies are hiring right now, and the ones that are have their pick of laid off police officers and guys who already have extensive military experience. So if you start working for the Guard at least you have a paycheck while you try to get picked up by a PD. Second you will gain valuable experience in the NG that you will be able to refer back to while in the hiring process for a law enforcement agency. (I am not in the National Guard and have no idea if they are actively hiring right now)

[Lugiahua]

wouldn't contract with Guard basically "fix" me in certain area when they assign me to an unit? that seems limited the agencies that I could apply to.