Military a must?!

[leowonderer]

I just got back from talking to a few people from the area who are either LEOs or work for HR in departments. One individual said the following.

1. You have an only 2 percent at best chance of getting in the first time around, no matter how you do in the process. No one really gets in their first choice.

2. You must have military to become a LEO. If you do not you have minimal to no chance to get in.

3. You must have some courses in Criminal Justice.

4. You must be a minority.

5. If you are white with no military you have little to no chance to get in.

Ok now I know this can not be true but let me tell you about me adn my background.

1. Early 20's, normal weight, etc. Good physical abilities, could work on upper body more though.

2. White male

3. Degree in a science field, minor in a mathamatical area.

4. No record, only one ticket, not on record (went to traffic school)

5. Good references

6. NO MILITARY (and to be honest no desire to do that)

Seeing I made it to BI I think I am doing something right but the statements above worry me. What do you all think?

[txinvestigator1]

You first 5 statements are all false.

[Citicop]

You first 5 statements are all false.

^^^^^^What he said.

Citicop.

[Ranger__101]

The first statment in only true in areas where there are a lot of applications for one position. Around here it is common to have 30 - 50 people applying for every one job. Farther up north there may be only a few who apply.

Military doesn't matter. It's just one more item for life experience like working in business or sales.

For Minnesota you must have a Bachlors degree and complete required courses for Law Enforcement or have an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.

Mostly the hiring requiremets are set out by each state for minimum standards. The one about being a minority is definitally a LIE!.

If you want a position in LE you have to make yourself the most marketable person around. When you think about it.. If I was hiring an officer.. Why would I hire someone just out of High School and no education or career training, if I have some one who has a college degree, a work history and life experience.

[cecilVA]

Hmm I've met many an exception to those rules.

[NyPd Sgt ALU]

come to the nypd they will hire you in a minute

[Kimble]

Sounds like some overstated and even outright bogus information:

1. You have an only 2 percent at best chance of getting in the first time around, no matter how you do in the process. No one really gets in their first choice.

Maybe with their department, if it is very large with very few openings. Otherwise, there are many who make it through and get hired on their first application.

2. You must have military to become a LEO. If you do not you have minimal to no chance to get in.

This is outright false information. Military experience can help, but even it is not a guarantee. There are many things that can help you become a LEO, and the military is only one of them

3. You must have some courses in Criminal Justice.

Again, completely false. CJ courses can help by familiarizing you with material that will be covered in Academy, but it is not a necessity. Many departments DO require a certain number of course hours or even a degree, but I've never seen one that said it had to be CJ courses/degree. I work full-time as a CJ Program Director for a college, and I can attest that this is the case in EVERY department I've worked with or referred students to.

4. You must be a minority.

This one is true.... only kidding. Being a minority CAN help, depending on the hiring needs of the department, location of the department, etc.

5. If you are white with no military you have little to no chance to get in.

Again, this is an overexaggeration.

... let me tell you about me adn my background.

1. Early 20's, normal weight, etc. Good physical abilities, could work on upper body more though.
2. White male
3. Degree in a science field, minor in a mathamatical area.
4. No record, only one ticket, not on record (went to traffic school)
5. Good references
6. NO MILITARY (and to be honest no desire to do that)

Seeing I made it to BI I think I am doing something right but the statements above worry me. What do you all think?

I think you have an excellent shot. If it doesn't work out, apply elsewhere as your background and experience will be attractive to many departments. If your degree is in a natural science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, etc.), especially if you have a good GPA, your degree will be VERY attractive, even to the FBI (if you later wanted to pursue a career with them). Best of luck to you

[Mike Romeo]

Well, my own personal experience as a recruit has shown me that my military experience was "desired" by my department, but it really had no face. At no time in the process did anyone ever tell me that I would likely get hired because I was prior military. If it did help me in any way, no one ever mentioned it. As for my character, the military molded it into something it definitely wasn't many years ago. I respect that you are not interested in military service and I wouldn't want anyone to enter the military without total commitment. The rest of your background should attract a department with little problem.

[chewy]

I agree. Thats all crap. Military does look good for you because it shows you will most likely have the discipline required and you can follow orders but it may not be a major factor as to whether you get hired or not. Its one of thoes that helps but doesn't make it or break it (usually). As far as education, most agencies just like that you have a degree, for the same reasons as the military. They know you have the discipline to "stick with it" so they don't spend all that money training you just to have you leave. I have found it true that you don't usually get hired on your first application but that isn't always true.

[leowonderer]

Thank you all for your responses. I feel that I have a good chance to get in as you have said but I will not be disapointed too bad if I do not my first time. I think I sold myself well during the interview but it was hard to determine if this was the case. Since I passed and made it to BI I think I have a good chance. It is just that people were saying "well they will find some way to boot you out" because.... even though I got this far.

Thanks everyone for your responsses. (Oh ya everyone is asking why am I not going for FBI... maybe in the future...)

[md123]

I have heard one BI in the NYPD say that he 'prefers' college grads to those coming in with military and minimal college credits, so I imagine a lot has to do with the discretion of the BI in some cases.

I am just a candidate like yourself, but see no reason for you to be discouraged.

[FloridaLEO]

Plenty of people have got in on their first choice; I did. You have to sell yourself and have confidence when your talking with future employers.

[Group9]

[QUOTE=leowonderer]I just got back from talking to a few people from the area who are either LEOs or work for HR in departments. One individual said the following. [QUOTE]


(Well let me see how this applies to me. I am on my fourth law enforcement job.)

1. You have an only 2 percent at best chance of getting in the first time around, no matter how you do in the process. No one really gets in their first choice.

I was hired at the third agency I applied for. The first two rejected me. I applied for three different agencies after that and was hired by all three.

2. You must have military to become a LEO. If you do not you have minimal to no chance to get in.

I have no military background.

3. You must have some courses in Criminal Justice.

I have a minor in Criminal Justice. It has never come up on any application.

4. You must be a minority.

I am not.

5. If you are white with no military you have little to no chance to get in.

I am white with no military background and I have been hired by four different law enforcement agencies.

FWIW

[mcsap]

We must give ANY asctive duty veteran 10 points which is added to their final score so being in the military HELPS.

[leowonderer]

Here is the question then... you have to give 10 points for military, why not points for college degrees?