question

**lacrosse_fan** · 03-30-06, 03:40 PM

Hi. I'm 19 yrs old and will finish up my associate's degree in May in criminal justice. Was wondering if I should try and get a dispatch job or go into the military before I turn 21 and can apply for a law enforcement agency?
My main goal is to be a patrol officer.
any answers will be helpful.
-lacrosse_fan

**PACMAN** · 03-30-06, 04:00 PM

depends what you want. The military will give you good life experience....that is the direction I took....

=

**Prometheus** · 03-30-06, 05:12 PM

Why not do both?

"In the Army National Guard.... YOU CAN!"

**jmur5074** · 03-30-06, 06:09 PM

Any experience is good.

**StanSwitek** · 03-30-06, 07:24 PM

Join the Marines.

**Iron Man** · 03-30-06, 07:42 PM

Look into dispatch and corrections. Also look for cadet programs.

**Retdetsgt** · 03-30-06, 09:11 PM

I'd recommend the military. You'll learn skills that will help you in LE. For one thing, it will expose you to a diverse group of people. You'll learn to get along with people you've never associated with before.

Dispatch won't teach you to be a cop. You'll learn that in the academy.

Besides, you can earn veterans points if you go full time military.

**Terminator** · 03-30-06, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

Dispatch won't teach you to be a cop. You'll learn that in the academy.

Want to know what being a dispatcher will teach you...

**Retdetsgt** · 03-30-06, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by LawEnforcementForums

Want to know what being a dispatcher will teach you...

How to consume vast amounts of food at one sitting!

**Prometheus** · 03-30-06, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Stan Switek

Join the Marines.

Sure, joining the Marines would be great if he were planning on making that his career. But let's face it, the majority of the Marines are trained as infantry. Your primary skill is basically Destroying Things.

In the Guard you can pick your training BEFORE you go, serve your country, get money for furthering your education, and work a civillian job as well. And there is A LOT of traing that could help you as a cop. Combat Medic, Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Specialist, Ordinance Disposal, etc.

Lots of perks for joining the Guard. The Marines don't need perks. They're the Marines.

**Terminator** · 03-30-06, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Retdetsgt

How to consume vast amounts of food at one sitting!

We could ask MichiganStud, he is a full-time dispatcher...

**PACMAN** · 03-30-06, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Sure, joining the Marines would be great if he were planning on making that his career. But let's face it, the majority of the Marines are trained as infantry. Your primary skill is basically Destroying Things.

In the Guard you can pick your training BEFORE you go, serve your country, get money for furthering your education, and work a civillian job as well. And there is A LOT of traing that could help you as a cop. Combat Medic, Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Specialist, Ordinance Disposal, etc.

Lots of perks for joining the Guard. The Marines don't need perks. They're the Marines.

yeah and when a war actually does happen you can be a pussy and sit on the tarmac and refuse to do your job...screaming "I did not sign up for this I onl;y wanted the college money".....sure kid join the gaurd, be a weekend warrior. When you get out with that DD214 they will hold you on an even playing field in the hiring process against anyone who has done full time active duty.....Not......The Gaurd will never teach you the discipline that the Corps will. When you walk across that Grinder off Paris Island you will know that you have accomplished something that no Gaurdsman can shake a stick at. And if you believe that bullshit that Prom just posted go see a recruiter....I think Prom may be stuck in the 60's....You can do anything you want in the Corps....By the way I was a 7051 Firefighter, left the Corps certified as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, and certified firefighter 1,2 and I hold a national certification in Aircraft Firfighting and Rescue. Some certs that Firfighters in small towns across America only dream about......ahh why am I rambling go join the gaurd.

And what is wrong with destroying shit?

**Prometheus** · 03-30-06, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by PACMAN

yeah and when a war actually does happen you can be a pussy and sit on the tarmac and refuse to do your job...screaming "I did not sign up for this I onl;y wanted the college money".....sure kid join the gaurd, be a weekend warrior. When you get out with that DD214 they will hold you on an even playing field in the hiring process against anyone who has done full time active duty.....Not......The Gaurd will never teach you the discipline that the Corps will. When you walk across that Grinder off Paris Island you will know that you have accomplished something that no Gaurdsman can shake a stick at. And if you believe that bullshit that Prom just posted go see a recruiter....I think Prom may be stuck in the 60's....You can do anything you want in the Corps....By the way I was a 7051 Firefighter, left the Corps certified as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, and certified firefighter 1,2 and I hold a national certification in Aircraft Firfighting and Rescue. Some certs that Firfighters in small towns across America only dream about......ahh why am I rambling go join the gaurd.

And what is wrong with destroying shit?

A little sensitive, aren't we? PAC, I meant no disrespect for the USMC. They rock. I was just trying to help him find a route that would give him the best benefit down the road.

BTW, the Marines turned me away at 19 because of my eyes. I'm 32 now and got a waiver for the Guard. I plan on showing the Marines what they should never have turned down.

**PACMAN** · 03-30-06, 10:46 PM

Me? Sensitive?.....never,

**Prometheus** · 03-30-06, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by PACMAN

Me? Sensitive?.....never,

Smile when you say that, Pilgrim.

**PACMAN** · 03-30-06, 10:59 PM

**cntryboy0531** · 03-31-06, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Your primary skill is basically Destroying Things.

And that's a bad thing? I'd love that job.

**REGEX** · 04-19-06, 09:13 AM

Can you be an auxilary officer before you are 21.

**Beans** · 04-19-06, 09:20 AM

I hated college and left to go into the Army. I hated the Army more, but it gave me great life experience and helped me secure my current job without a college degree.

**kdm0409** · 04-19-06, 09:22 AM

I was an officer for almost 8 months before I turned 21... The department I was hired at only had the age requirement of 18.. Some departments still have that age limit, but most are changing to 21 now.