Law Enforcement to Military?

[DntTrdOnMe]

I know many people serve in the military before shifting over to law enforcement, but how often do people previously working in law enforcement (particularly a federal agency) jump over to the military?

[retdetsgt]

I can't imagine many people would want to go from being a police officer to a private.

I only know of one guy who changed like that, but he was prior military. He didn't make his probationary period so he went back into the Marines. But he had been a E-6 and lost only one stripe signing up again

I never heard of anyone voluntarily quitting and going in the military, no.

[Kimble]

One could also kill two birds with one stone and apply to work for a federal LE agency that services a military branch. Each branch has a criminal investigative agency (Army = CID, USAF = OSI, Navy/USMC = NCIS, and Coast Guard = CGIS), with agents who are active duty and civilian 1811's, and all are sworn federal LEOs.

[retdetsgt]

One could also kill two birds with one stone and apply to work for a federal LE agency that services a military branch. Each branch has a criminal investigative agency (Army = CID, USAF = OSI, Navy/USMC = NCIS, and Coast Guard = CGIS), with agents who are active duty and civilian 1811's, and all are sworn federal LEOs.

Do you have access to military medical care, commissary, etc?

[Kimble]

Do you have access to military medical care, commissary, etc?

Yes and no. In CONUS civilian agents (like me) do not, though we do when stationed OCONUS. Active duty agents (who do the same job as us, but are enlisted) do both OCONUS and CONUS.

[retdetsgt]

Back in the "old days" it would be an officer/enlisted man team. I remember talking to some CID people quite a bit when we had a supply NCO get a little slap happy with gubment stuff. One was probably a captain and the other was more than likely an E-6 looking at their ages. To their credit, you could tell which was the officer and which was the enlisted. The only reason I knew was because I'd seen one of them at the O club.

[Rlong1985]

I have run into a couple of guys that said they were cops before joining the service. Most of the time they were Reserve Officers and were having difficulty finding a paid positions and ran out of time waiting for a slot to open for one reason or another.

[DntTrdOnMe]

thanks for the insight guys. I ask because I am currently on track to getting a job with a federal agency through a college program and I'm putting in a lot of time and effort to get it. While I'm without a doubt that I want the job, I've always had a very strong desire to serve in the military and unfortunately I haven't been able to because of a mild case of allergy induced asthma.

The asthma is another reason I'm leaning towards the law enforcement job right now, but I plan to start receiving allergy shots to get rid of the asthma. It would take a couple years to get rid of it but after that there would be nothing stopping me from pursuing my aspiration of joining the military..... except a job in law enforcement.

I guess to answer my own concern/question I already know I should focus on getting the federal law enforcement job now since I can't join the military yet anyway. I think I was just looking for some similar stories to help clear up my thoughts but I should probably stop worrying about the future and just deal with the present.

[armydiver]

...unfortunately I haven't been able to because of a mild case of allergy induced asthma.

The asthma is another reason I'm leaning towards the law enforcement job right now, but I plan to start receiving allergy shots to get rid of the asthma. It would take a couple years to get rid of it but after that there would be nothing stopping me from pursuing my aspiration of joining the military..... except a job in law enforcement.

The asthma will still stop you. Regardless if you have it treated, under control, haven't had an attack in years, asthma will be an issue. You can try to get a waiver, but it will be incredibly difficult. While asthma fades as people grow older, or their alergies subside and they aren't effected by it any longer, it is still a possibility that you could have issues and because of that, the military will likely DQ you for it. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but you posses one of the most solid nails in an enlistment coffin that exists. I've seen guys get waivers for criminal activity like you wouldn't believe but couldn't even get close to one if they had a mild case of childhood or alergy induced asthma.

You can contact a recruiter and speak with them about your options but I would stick with the job for now. The military isn't going anywhere. No point in missing a job in LE... they're much harder to come by.

[jbadoef0607]

I know this has been probably beaten already but here is my opinion.

Surprisingly enough I've seen quite a few LEO's joining the National Guard, Marine Reserve, ect. Mainly due to their feeling of obligation to not only serving their cities, counties, and states, but also their country as well. The few I have known personally made excellent soldiers, NCO's and Officers. My former Platoon Leader was a County Sheriff Deputy, my former Company Commander was a State Trooper, and have had a few squad leaders and team leaders who were also LEO's. All of them were not only well respected officers in their respective communities, but excellent leaders. While in basic training not only did they show superior discipline, distinguished themselves in hand to hand combat training and weapons qualifications, plus EXCELLENT PT, but were natural leaders to the rest of us, most of whom were high school grads. So to answer your question, it does happen quite a bit, more so for a desire to help protect their country. So any LEO who desires to join my unit (C Co 1/186 Infantry, 41st Infantry Brigade in Oregon), are ALWAYS a very welcome addition.

just my 2 cents.

[TSOC357]

but how often do people previously working in law enforcement (particularly a federal agency) jump over to the military?

I've got one Troop in my BDE out here that was a prior Police Officer and a Deputy in a small rural town in the Midwest somewhere. He got mad at the politics of the place and joined up.

He's currently counting the days down to when his 4-year enlistment is up. He's been deployed several times a barely works the road due to the way things work out here.

He's planning on going back to the Midwest and going to school and becoming a teacher of some sorts.

He's the only one I've seen in the 15 (almost 16) years that I'v been in the Army.