Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

So I decided to apply to a cadet program after meeting someone who had joined and heard all the positive things they had to say about it. I am obviously going to be police officer (knock on wood) and thought it would greatly increase my chances of getting hired and also give me a better taste of what's to come. However, I will be 20 in a month and am now experiencing some reservations about the whole thing, being that you must resign you position at 21, which is also when I will be applying to various departments. I feel I might be wasting not only my time, but also the instructors seeing as how I will only have a year to contribute and only 6 mos. after the academy ends.

So my question is: Should I plan on joining or just wait another year for the "big show"?

Also, if any of you have cadets/explorers beginning at my age (20), what is it like for them being older and having such a short lived position? Is it worth it for them?

So I decided to apply to a cadet program after meeting someone who had joined and heard all the positive things they had to say about it. I am obviously going to be police officer (knock on wood) and thought it would greatly increase my chances of getting hired and also give me a better taste of what's to come. However, I will be 20 in a month and am now experiencing some reservations about the whole thing, being that you must resign you position at 21, which is also when I will be applying to various departments. I feel I might be wasting not only my time, but also the instructors seeing as how I will only have a year to contribute and only 6 mos. after the academy ends.

So my question is: Should I plan on joining or just wait another year for the "big show"?

Also, if any of you have cadets/explorers beginning at my age (20), what is it like for them being older and having such a short lived position? Is it worth it for them?

Personally I wouldn’t do it, just wait, plus if your 20 now check with your local departments about applying now, not sure about your state but in AZ you can apply and go through the academy at 20, as long as you turn 21 before or on the day of graduation.

well my opinion on it, is get the little bit of training in that you can for the remaining time until your of age, unless there is something your gonna do in the mean time, but really, there is nothing wrong with joining now, and yes it will look good on your resume, and it will make the academy, just a LiTtLe easier, just try it and see how you like it, think of it as your going through a pre-academy because thats almost exactly what it is

well my opinion on it, is get the little bit of training in that you can for the remaining time until your of age, unless there is something your gonna do in the mean time, but really, there is nothing wrong with joining now, and yes it will look good on your resume, and it will make the academy, just a LiTtLe easier, just try it and see how you like it, think of it as your going through a pre-academy because thats almost exactly what it is

That would depend very much on the explorer post, also how do you know that explorers is almost exactly like a police academy if you never been through one, I can tell you that the two explorer posts I was in which I went through an explorer academy for one before I became a Navy Cop, did very little for me in Boot Camp and in my Navy Police Academy, except I learned how to shine my boots, that was about it. Best thing to do if your 20yo now is to apply, not to become an explorer. just my 2 cents

That would depend very much on the explorer post, also how do you know that explorers is almost exactly like a police academy if you never been through one, I can tell you that the two explorer posts I was in which I went through an explorer academy for one before I became a Navy Cop, did very little for me in Boot Camp and in my Navy Police Academy, except I learned how to shine my boots, that was about it. Best thing to do if your 20yo now is to apply, not to become an explorer. just my 2 cents

I say that its somewhat like the academy, because a deputy in my county was an explorer 4 years ago, and thats 10-5 (RELAYED INFORMATION), so thats why I said that, and thats not necesarrily true, because when you do ride alongs and things to that nature, you learn different procedure so it would be inaccurate for you to say that all you can learn or all you learned from it was to shine your boots, thats almost like a criticizm to the explorer program, I dont care what explorer post your in, if you make an effort and maek yourself present at the different events, and details, I promiss you will learn something, it just takes that little bit of effort, Ive been an explorer for a year, and Im now a Sgt., I know about every Deputy in my dept. I know "THE" Sheriff, I know how to write a report, I know how to deal with a numerous amount of different calls, I know the circumstances of how to take someone into custody, its just different things that you learn, but the way that you put it makes it seem like a major criticizm to explorers

I say that its somewhat like the academy, because a deputy in my county was an explorer 4 years ago, and thats 10-5 (RELAYED INFORMATION), so thats why I said that, and thats not necesarrily true, because when you do ride alongs and things to that nature, you learn different procedure so it would be inaccurate for you to say that all you can learn or all you learned from it was to shine your boots, thats almost like a criticizm to the explorer program, I dont care what explorer post your in, if you make an effort and maek yourself present at the different events, and details, I promiss you will learn something, it just takes that little bit of effort, Ive been an explorer for a year, and Im now a Sgt., I know about every Deputy in my dept. I know "THE" Sheriff, I know how to write a report, I know how to deal with a numerous amount of different calls, I know the circumstances of how to take someone into custody, its just different things that you learn, but the way that you put it makes it seem like a major criticizm to explorers

well goodie good for you :rolleyes:, first of all when I WAS a explorer I was one for three years and the Capt. of my post, I'm now a U.S. Navy Master-At-Arms (Naval Police Officer) and have attended and passed a Military Police Academy, so before you go in a rant about who you know and what you know, stop and think to your self, does this sound like something a mature person would say, or a child that gets to where Sgt. strips on his explorer uniform.

nadler20, this is one of the reasons I say to apply and not to waste your time with an explorer program, dwilson says his a Sgt. of his post, meaning someone like him would be in charge of you, I know I wouldn’t want that from the way his acted on here.

well goodie good for you :rolleyes:, first of all when I WAS a explorer I was one for three years and the Capt. of my post, I'm now a U.S. Navy Master-At-Arms (Naval Police Officer) and have attended and passed a Military Police Academy, so before you go in a rant about who you know and what you know, stop and think to your self, does this sound like something a mature person would say, or a child that gets to where Sgt. strips on his explorer uniform.

nadler20, this is one of the reasons I say to apply and not to waste your time with an explorer program, dwilson says his a Sgt. of his post, meaning someone like him would be in charge of you, I know I wouldn’t want that from the way his acted on here.

Lol, wow, your amazing, you know what, one of my jobs as a Sgt. is ((RECRUITMENT)), correct, its not for my post, but thats one more person on our team, and telling you straight up, there is nothing wrong with encouraging someone, I never said anything wrong to nadler20, but because your quick to criticize, you act like im an idiot, and I applaud you for becoming a naval cop, more power to ya, my dad was a cop and my step dad was an MP so Im somewhat educated on law enforcement and I would appreciate it if you didnt criticize my intelligence, and you are in no position to tell somebody that I would make a bad superior because thats exactly what you said, you just sugar coated your words, your making a big deal of something that is completely stupid, Im sure being a Naval Cop requires some type of intelligence, at this point its probably best to just drop this, because its really stupid and I dont have time to waste arguing with someone that doesnt seem to have any motivation or self confidence, lets not do this again, please

I say that its somewhat like the academy, because a deputy in my county was an explorer 4 years ago, and thats 10-5 (RELAYED INFORMATION), so thats why I said that, and thats not necesarrily true, because when you do ride alongs and things to that nature, you learn different procedure so it would be inaccurate for you to say that all you can learn or all you learned from it was to shine your boots, thats almost like a criticizm to the explorer program, I dont care what explorer post your in, if you make an effort and maek yourself present at the different events, and details, I promiss you will learn something, it just takes that little bit of effort, Ive been an explorer for a year, and Im now a Sgt., I know about every Deputy in my dept. I know "THE" Sheriff, I know how to write a report, I know how to deal with a numerous amount of different calls, I know the circumstances of how to take someone into custody, its just different things that you learn, but the way that you put it makes it seem like a major criticizm to explorers

Holy run-on sentence Batman! I sure hope you use spell check on the reports you write, too. :eek:

Lol, wow, your amazing, you know what, one of my jobs as a Sgt. is ((RECRUITMENT)), correct, its not for my post, but thats one more person on our team, and telling you straight up, there is nothing wrong with encouraging someone, I never said anything wrong to nadler20, but because your quick to criticize, you act like im an idiot, and I applaud you for becoming a naval cop, more power to ya, my dad was a cop and my step dad was an MP so Im somewhat educated on law enforcement and I would appreciate it if you didnt criticize my intelligence, and you are in no position to tell somebody that I would make a bad superior because thats exactly what you said, you just sugar coated your words, your making a big deal of something that is completely stupid, Im sure being a Naval Cop requires some type of intelligence, at this point its probably best to just drop this, because its really stupid and I dont have time to waste arguing with someone that doesnt seem to have any motivation or self confidence, lets not do this again, please

Believe me it takes a lot more motivation and self confidence to be a Navy Cop then it does to be an explorer, so stick to telling 14 year olds what to do and lay off posting on this thread anymore, it's been hijacked enough as it is now.

nadler20: check with a recruiter, or even an officer of the pd that you are applying for, and ask them what they recommend you do in this situation, and explain it to them.

Oh, and IBTL.

Lol, yes sir, by no means am I trying to be disrespectful but, Im just trying to say, please dont act that you are any better then me, because if you think about it, we are on the same team, Law Enforcement is Law Enforcement no matter how you put it, yes, I dont carry a gun, but at the same time an explorer is still putting their life on the line.

2nd Reply to other member: Im not writing a Report there for im not gonna walk on egg shells for no reason, if that makes sense, but my reports arent run-ons, Ive been chewed out on that before several times

Thanks Remy. I think I'll do that.

Mods, do your duty

Not To Be

Lol, yes sir, by no means am I trying to be disrespectful but, Im just trying to say, please dont act that you are any better then me, because if you think about it, we are on the same team, Law Enforcement is Law Enforcement no matter how you put it, yes, I dont carry a gun, but at the same time an explorer is still putting their life on the line.

2nd Reply to other member: Im not writing a Report there for im not gonna walk on egg shells for no reason, if that makes sense, but my reports arent run-ons, Ive been chewed out on that before several times

It doesn't hurt to become friends with the apostrophe key or the period key. I know you're not going to be as perfect online as if you were going to be graded but by making complete sentences and using some punctuation your posts get a lot more coherent and legible, not to mention more professional looking. I can tell you that whenever I read any posts here that are very misspelled or not punctuated it looks bad and makes the person look dumber than they may actually be.

It doesn't hurt to become friends with the apostrophe key or the period key. I know you're not going to be as perfect online as if you were going to be graded but by making complete sentences and using some punctuation your posts get a lot more coherent and legible, not to mention more professional looking. I can tell you that whenever I read any posts here that are very misspelled or not punctuated it looks bad and makes the person look dumber than they may actually be.

Ill make sure and do that.

Ill make sure and do that.

Haha, off to a good start I see.
Alright, I'll stop derailing the thread. By the way dwilson, I'm not trying to personally attack you in any of my posts, they're more like general statements to anyone reading that were typed BECAUSE of you. :D

My opinion? Don't join the Explorers, just apply to be a police officer.

I can tell you that whenever I read any posts here that are very misspelled or not punctuated it looks bad and makes the person look dumber than they may actually be.

Funny. "You aren't as dumb as you look, are you?"