So my dad (police officer of 30 years) is discouraging me from becoming a cop

[blindside]

One thing for sure, you will not experience the bond that holds us together.

Edit: I originally had a post about you attacking me with this statement sgtbear111, but I now realize that it was not directly inttended towards me. I appologize.

[sgtbear111]

Negative assumptions were mine, based on what info was posted. It came across as an everyday quitter or DOR, unwilling to keep a committment. Your recent post better explains the position you are in.

You will miss a great opporrtunity by turning down the Marines, your decsion.

My apologies for jumping down your throat.

[blindside]

The "not feeling up to it anymore" post was meant to make you question your intentions.

We do not have the luxury of "not feeling up to it anymore." While most military service allows you the latitude to ponder your path and resolve (with the obvious exception of war,) law enforcement does not. Every time you put on the uniform, you are going to war. You may have 41,600 days go by without ever having to fire a shot at someone. You may have 41 milliseconds to defend your life or someone elses.

We can never, ever uphold our oath by going on duty "not feeling up to it anymore." It means that our partners, who in the blink of an eye, will put their very life in our hands, without hesitation or thought, and if we don't feel up to it, a supportive spouse and/or kids may never see their loved one again.

I am reminded of a recent commercial....a lady is at a dance school and she is told to fall backwards into the arms of her partner. When he lets her fall flat on her back, the instructor asks what was that for? His reply......"I was trying to find my motivation." THAT is not feeling up to it, THAT is what we cannot have. Either you have it or you don't. If you don't, for the sake of everyone else who does.....don't come on board. If you have it.....go for it with all you have to give, and you will get the same in return.

I really hate the limitations of the internet, I genuinely wish you all could meet me in person to see what a kind and caring person I really am, or atleast who I think I am. I believe I am one of the most unselfish persons you could ever meet, and that is why I want to be a police officer, to help other people. That is exactly what it boils down to. I want to go out there and save someone from a drunk driver, an abusive husband/father, themselves, murderers, rapists, gangs, drug dealers, and everything else under the sun. I really deep down want to help people and have the satisfaction at the end of the day that I helped someone, or maybe even saved a life. This is why I want to be police officer, nothing else. I hear some of the talk about money, benefits, etc., to me, these are not the first things on my list that matter. I don't desire the big paycheck of a lawyer, or the benefits of a government employee, I care about making a difference in a good persons life, no matter how big or small, or how few or many. You know, these may sound like noob reasons for somebody wanting to be a police officer to the more experienced guys here, or maybe even a little bit sappy, but I would like to think you all felt that way at some point or another, and I hope you still feel that way today. You are all right though, I will not know if I am cut out for the job until I am actually there, but being optamistic is a great part of my personality and I believe that this is the very best thing I could do for myself, I feel it in my bones and in my heart.

[Taz_bb2]

I really hate the limitations of the internet, I genuinely wish you all could meet me in person to see what a kind and caring person I really am, or atleast who I think I am. I believe I am one of the most unselfish persons you could ever meet, and that is why I want to be a police officer, to help other people. That is exactly what it boils down to. I want to go out there and save someone from a drunk driver, an abusive husband/father, themselves, murderers, rapists, gangs, drug dealers, and everything else under the sun. I really deep down want to help people and have the satisfaction at the end of the day that I helped someone, or maybe even saved a life. This is why I want to be police officer, nothing else. I hear some of talk about money, benefit, etc., to me, these are not the first things on my list that matter. I don't desire the big paycheck of a lawyer, or the benefits of a government employee, I care about making making a difference, no matter how big or small, or how few or many. You know, these may sound like noob reasons for somebody wanting to be a police officer to the more experienced guys here, or maybe even a little bit sappy, but I would like to think you all felt that way at some point or another, and I hope you still feel that way today. You are all right though, I will not know if I am cut out for the job until I am actually there, but being optamistic is a great part of my personality and I believe that this is the very best thing I could do for myself, I feel it in my bone and in my heart.

Yup, you sound like a noob to me;) , but I was in your shoes not too long ago.

You have absolutely nothing to prove to me. Sounds like you have already proven yourself via your service and Quantico. If this is truly what you want to do, follow your heart without abandon.

[RT302]

Sorry guys, late getting in on this one:

Blindside, I had the exact reverse predicament about 15 years ago. I wanted to enlist in the Army right out of high school and wanted to do exactly what my father did. (Army Infantry) Not being too close to my Dad growing up, because he always seemed to be TDY, deployed, REFORGER, schools, etc, etc, I didn't think he would mind my wanting to emulate him. WRONG! I sent him a letter in Kuwait in 1991 telling him of my intentions. He sent me 8 pages, front and back, on why I should NOT join. He saw the writing on the wall as to how the Reagan/ Bush years were over for DOD, the Cold War was done, etc. and he wanted a better life for his kids than what he had. He did place a caveat that if I still wanted to go armed forces, Air Force as a commissioned officer was the only way to go. He wanted me to get an education also.
Long story short, I re-evaluted my decision, got my degree and obtained a commision as a Fed. LEO. I am very happy with my decisions, and I don't think he could be any more proud, as I am still very proud of him and his accomplishments. I still have the letter he wrote from a war zone in 1991 and may go re-read it after typing this.
What did occur is that I sat down, determined the pros/ cons, took the advice from my father, his buddies, (all senior enlisted and had been around several blocks...), and I made my own decision. The choice is yours. Having said that, I will discourage both of my daughters from following in my footsteps....