MPs not allowed as civilian LEO?

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Springfeildkid585

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I am a current college student, double majoring in criminal justice and psychology. I have been in talks with a recruiter for the United States Marine Corps, my planned MOS is Military Police (becoming an Officer via PLC option.) I ran into a friend today that strongly advised against this, he claimed that civilian Police Departments were not allowed to hire MP's because military law is very different from civilian law. It sounds fishy to me, and this particular is not to be noted for his intelligence, but I wanted to follow up and do alittle research. After all, I'd rather ask a stupid question than end up being the stupid bugger who can't continue his career after leaving the Corps.
 
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I believe your friend is a bit short on actual knowledge. The civilian law enforcement agencies are full of military veterans; and you would probably get "brownie points" for prior military service.

I wouldn't give too much credence as to the differences between civilian laws and the UCMJ.

In the city I reside, there are lots of military veterans on the local PD.

And, if you have any doubts, I'm sure that local PD's would be happy to provide you with information for employment with them after your military service is complete.
 
In my experience a lot of civilian agencies value past military LE/Security types. You will have to complete a civilian LE academy to be certified in the state where you want to work once you seperate, but you should have a leg up on the other students because of your experience. In my old AF outfit we had several reserve agents who were LE types in civilian life, and in my current civilian dept we have several former military LE types.
 
I guess I must have snuck in under the radar. Most departments prefer military experience (especially Marine Corp). In my experience, they don't really care that much about your MOS. Even though I was an MP, I'd recommend someone planning on a civilian law enforcement career to pick something else. You'll get all the law enforcement training you'll need in the academy/on the job. Having a marketable skill in another field gives you more options if law enforcment doesn't work out or after you retire or for a side business. These days, MP's don't do a lot of patrol-type work. It ain't cops and robbers, it's guard duty, convoy escorts, quasi-infantry etc.
 
As others have said, this fellow doesn't know what he is talking about. With a 4 year degree and Military justice experience I would be looking into one of the Government agencies, BATFE, FBI, Postal Inspectors, (probably not border patrol). With the US government it is possible your military time would count for seniority. I believe it would in the Post Office.
 
jaykellogg said:
As others have said, this fellow doesn't know what he is talking about. With a 4 year degree and Military justice experience I would be looking into one of the Government agencies, BATFE, FBI, Postal Inspectors, (probably not border patrol). With the US government it is possible your military time would count for seniority. I believe it would in the Post Office.
Click to expand...

Some state and local agencies also allow you to "purchase" credit in the retirement system for prior military service, although a lot of pension systems are undergoing changes these days so your mileage may vary.
 
My friend is prior Secret Service and now works for the local PD.

Something about 2008 and change. :rolleyes:

He's much better off now. Two baby girls. They're so cute.
 
Hmmmm.......we hire veterans, but your friend is correct in that military policing is different than civilian......similar, but different. From my understanding, there is a focus on what I was told is DL&O (Discipline, Law, & Order). We don't operate quite like that.

Most states have standards for LEOs and I don't know of a single military police certification that transfers to civilian law enforcement. You'll have to get certified in the state you live in. In my state there are similar, but different again, certifications for deputies and municipal officers.

In short, military policing may help you acquire some basic LEO skills, but in my opinion they are two different jobs.
 
Our Academy classes have many, many vets and they generally do well.

One issue is that many, maybe most, of our local agencies do not hire tobacco users and that seems, I've been told, to cull out many otherwise qualified veterans.

I'm teaching a new recruit class starting next Monday, and I will bet 25% (about) will be veterans.

Bob
 
When I took a police exam many years ago, I had a 5-point veteran hiring preference. I made a score in the mid-90's on the written exam, and the vet score gave me a 100 points. But some had a 10-point preference for being wounded, or something. Check your local department.

There may also be hiring quotas for some races. Maybe not officially, but I'm quite sure that many departments hire partially on a race and gender basis.

I've nver heard of a department that rejected veterans.
 
In Mississippi, if a veteran has completed military law enforcement and been assigned and qualified in LE duties (by assignment of MOS, AFSC, etc.), they do not have to attend the 10 week state LE academy, only the 3 week refresher. They must also have less than a 2 year break in service between military and civilian LE employment.
 
10 week state LE academy? Seriously? Our academy was 5 months not including 16 weeks of field training. Our training isn't even the longest in the state. There are agencies that are MUCH longer.

10 weeks? That's scary. You don't learn NEARLY enough about LE in 10 weeks.....wow.
 
Thank you all, I was relatively certain he was mistaken. As I said, he's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
I am aware that there are definitely differences between civilian and military law enforcement and that I will still have to attend the civilian police academy in most states.
 
I am another one that slipped through the cracks. 4 years as an Air Force SP, 26 years and counting in civilian law enforcement. Florida did make us go through an academy here (16 weeks), they wouldn't accept the military police academy at Lackland AFB. The department that hired me paid me to go through it so it didn't bother me any.
 
Wrong just plain wrong. First congrats on soon becoming a commisioned officer. Second if your going active duty you have a long while before you have to worry about it. Third and most important. They will be lined up to hire you!!!!!
 
Most departments recruit prior military because they know they are familiar with chain of command etc. My dept hired several ex-MPs, myself included. Just don't think MP training is a substitute for the LE Academy, it's not.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2
 
4506517 said:
10 week state LE academy? Seriously? Our academy was 5 months not including 16 weeks of field training. Our training isn't even the longest in the state. There are agencies that are MUCH longer.

10 weeks? That's scary. You don't learn NEARLY enough about LE in 10 weeks.....wow.
Click to expand...

When I went the academy in Illinois in 1978 it was 6 weeks, and it didn't seem to hinder my career.
 
o3rugby1 said:
Wrong just plain wrong. First congrats on soon becoming a commisioned officer. Second if your going active duty you have a long while before you have to worry about it. Third and most important. They will be lined up to hire you!!!!!
Click to expand...

Thank you sir, though there's still two years left in my schooling and OCS between me and the old butter bar. I am still just getting started down the path really. I certainly hope they will be.
 
I asked said friend where he had gotten such bs info, apparently the enlisted recruiters are the source of this story.
 
Some departments will consider MP time as former law enforcement time and others won't for purposes of qualification, for example, their hiring guidelines may say: "Candidates must have a bachelor degree or 4 years of prior law enforcement experience." Some departments may consider state-certified police experience only and some may consider military police experience.

That's where the confusion may come from.
 
When I went to the academy most of my classmates both men and women were military vets, some were college students some were of the street. 2 years later we went for reclassification/refresher training the instructor asked some questions one was how many military veterans are there most if not all raised our hands. He said that was typical because we had a good work ethic, pride and integrity instilled in us and we usually stuck around when others did not.

Or it could be we were just used to standing in line all the time.
 
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