Air Force SF vs. Army MP

[Tracy2108]

Hi,

I'm a seven-teen year old junior in high school. I'm interested in joining the military for numerous reasons (serving my country, free college, helps me become civilian LEO, etc). The job I am looking at in the military is being a military police officer since a career in law enforcement is a dream of mine. I've heard that people say departments don't like to hire former MP's because they have habits they need to break. Is this true? Would being an MP in the Army or SF in the Air Force hurt, help or do nothing to my chances of becomming law enforcement in a civilian department?

Anyways, here comes the meat of the topic. I'm deciding which branch I want to join and I've narrowed it down to the Army and the Air Force. The Army has the Military Police MOS and the Air Force has the Security Forces MOS. I've heard good and bad things about both of them. I've heard Army MP's are more infantry trained and Security Forces are more gate guard. Any of you currently in the Air Force or Army as one of these MOS's? What is the typical day for you like?

I understand the benefits that both services offer are similar since they are all military. I'm not concerned about that. I just want to be a military police officer and leave with atleast an associates degree. That's what I want to get out of it. I don't care if I deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan or Minot. That stuff isn't what concerns me. I understand the needs of the country come before my wants. However, the Air Force can't promise me a Security Forces job so I am concerned about going into MEPS and not getting the job I want in the Air Force. I love my country but I don't want to waste 4-6 years of my life doing a job I have no interest in doing. That wouldn't be fun. The same goes for the Army. So what are the chances of me getting either one of these MOS's? I have no criminal history (not even a speeding ticket) and no mental health issues. I'm in average shape right now but I'm working on it (I'm very weak...just started lifting weights for the first time). I think I'm on the right track though.

So the bottom line is this, what service would you choose and why? What makes that service so much better? What is trained better and ultimately, which will help me become a civilian LEO better? Keep in mind I want to be a military police officer no matter which branch I choose. Thanks.

[JakeLock]

Where's AirmanE3 when you need him...lol

Well I'm neither SF or MP but I've known alot of SF folks in my career in the AF so I'll tell you what I know.

I don't know anything about MP's so I won't comment on that field.

Unless things have changed recently the AF they've always been able to gaurantee a job you qualify for. I went in the AF gauranteed EOD.

Currently all the guard positions (IE gate guard) are being done by civilian contractors, SF folks are now doing patrol, flightline duty, missile field security, and some still do gate guard duty in a nuclear storage area.

I've never really heard anything about SF needing to be broken of habits in the civilian world, and several of the local officers here are retired SF.

The more I read over what I wrote I realize this probably won't be much help but FWIW I tried :D

[Tracy2108]

Well I appreciate the time you took to give me an answer. That helps me out a lot. I am leaning towards Air Force because I like their community college but I'm just not sure.

[JakeLock]

I am leaning towards Air Force because I like their community college but I'm just not sure.

I forgot to put that in their, oops. AF is the only branch that has a college program, and if you do decide to go AF you would earn a AA in CJ. It's not easy, but you can definately get it done.

[Tracy2108]

If I could do that and have a year in the Explorers program I think I'd be on the fast track to a civilian LEO career. That is my ultimate goal.

[ashock]

Well im an MP in the marines, if you have any questions feel free to PM me and ill try and answer.

[EJV]

I am active duty in the AF and I can say that at my base, I have driven through 6 or the 7 gates and they are all manned by contractors. There is a large SF presence here because of the stuff that goes on here. Like JakeLock said they do patrol on the base to include the flightline. SF have a pretty high deployment tempo compared to most other Air Force AFSCs (AF version of MOS) and over in Iraq they will work both inside and outside the wire. Not too sure what they are up to in Afghanistan.

[H.R. Cufnstuf]

I forgot to put that in their, oops. AF is the only branch that has a college program, and if you do decide to go AF you would earn a AA in CJ. It's not easy, but you can definately get it done.

You´re kidding, right? We have more college progams in the Navy than I can keep track of.

You can always be a U.S. Navy Master At Arms. We train at the same academy as USAF SF (Lackland AFB) and our role is more law enforcement oriented than the other branches. Our training program at Lackland is a condensed police academy which consists almost completely of law enforcement training.

The SF program is a bit more strict, longer hours, and more expeditionary combat training. As a MA you would not receive that unless you went to a command that specifically required it. The SF´s don´t get OC sprayed though ;)

[JakeLock]

You´re kidding, right? We have more college progams in the Navy than I can keep track of.

I mean the AF is the only branch that has their own community college. Not only with college programs. Obviously there are academies and college programs offered through every branch.

Didn't mean to make it sound like the AF was 'better' by any means. Any service is good service.

[Tracy2108]

H.R. Cufnstuf,

I've been told you cannot enlist as a Master-At-Arms though. I heard you need to have like two years in the Navy before you can do that. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[BP348]

I spent 7 years as a USAF SP before they went to "Security Forces". In a lot of ways the SF thing is good and makes the air force SF alot more like the MP's. Alot depends on where you're stationed

Yes USAF has CCAF but the Army has a better college program (at least it did) for after you get out of the service. When I got out all the AF offered was the G.I. Bill the army has the G.I. Bill plus some other programs.

You also have to remember that your going to be working shift work while serving and it's hard to go to school and do shift work. It can be done but I know that at the time I couldn't do it.

I have to recommend USAF but either service will get you what you want.

[26Trainer]

Tracy2108 both the Air Force and Army have great programs for MP/SF, so does the Navy and Marines. If my memory serves me correctly most military law enforcement are critical fields and are dying to get folks to enlist and with a healthy sign on bonus. All branches have their ups and downs, some are more vigiorous than others. If you go Air Force try for the Pararescueman, now that is some top notch troops!

Take your time and see what the recruiter can give you in regards to college tuition and make sure that you have it all in black and white in your contract. If not you will be put where they want you as soon as you finish basic training.

Good luck in what ever branch you choose! Also the Coast Guard has some good training.

Be safe!

[Tracy2108]

Thanks for the help guys. I really appreciate it.

[cobravenom1]

Howizit Tracy2108,
From what I have seen in my career and observe here in the Sandbox, Army MP is the way to go. I'm Navy and have the 9545 NEC training myself (1991). The reason why I say Army is because of their varied roles in theater. Anything from Convoy Ops to base police duties is normal for them on any given day. One of the skill sets that I am jealous of is the Iraqi/Afghan Police training programs that they are pretty much in charge of. In fact, the Army is trying to recruit 6,000 plus MP's for this role. Navy, USAF, and Marines have a few assigned to this mission on very limited scale.

IMHO, any of the military police careers are good to get you the experience. However, remember that it is military. All of the stuff you may learn and get trained on in a PD/Agency may not be offered readily through the military. Unless you are stationed where outside the gates is known for crime (ie...San Diego, New York, Las Vegas...) you pretty much deal with military personnel with limited exposure to civilian PDs/Agencies.

Just make a choice and pursue what you really want to learn from the inside. As with any LEO job, you really don't know until you do.

GO NARMY!!!:D

[smcc360]

In general, branch and MOS won't have a huge effect on future law-enforcement career aspirations. Serving your country as a truck driver or a clerk is every bit as honorable as dressing like a ninja and rappelling out of helicopters.

The important thing is an honorable discharge. Being a cook instead of a Combat Controller won't hurt you a bit, but the word 'dishonorable' on your DD-214 will sink you.

Good luck with whatever you choose. I've worked with Air Force SP guys (one of them posts here, occasionally), and they're squared-away.