Military Veterans Make Great Police Officers
Abstract
The author, who served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps, believes military veterans make great police officers because of the skill sets they develop over the course of their military careers. This paper will focus on a few of the many skill sets military veterans develop such as combat experience learned in the military and how it is put to use in police departments. The knowledge and experience acquired in firearms skills in the military which help as a police officer in the line of duty will be discussed. In addition to the physical fitness demands of the military compared to those in the state of Illinois police departments, which are less rigorous.
Introduction
Military veterans acquire certain job skills that many people just don’t have. Most jobs don’t require their employees to properly fire and maintain weapons or stay in top physical condition. However, one option military veterans have is using their unique skill sets in law enforcement.
Combat Experience Individuals with military experience make desirable law enforcement officers and bring a high level of training and dedication. In addition combat veterans are typically team-orientated professionals who exemplify the selfless commitment necessary to serve their communities as law enforcement officers. Military experience in one’s current time has given many veterans combat experience. This is possibly one of the most important factors for police agencies to consider because it means they have already been tested in high pressure, time-sensitive, life-and-death scenarios. Decision making in high-stress situations is an unknown for many officers. Someone without military experience might only discover this after a tragic event has already occurred. Many of the country’s military veterans have already made decisions under duress and know how they will react in similar situations. They have made split-second decisions based on evaluating a dynamic event as it is
The author, who served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps, believes military veterans make great police officers because of the skill sets they develop over the course of their military careers. This paper will focus on a few of the many skill sets military veterans develop such as combat experience learned in the military and how it is put to use in police departments. The knowledge and experience acquired in firearms skills in the military which help as a police officer in the line of duty will be discussed. In addition to the physical fitness demands of the military compared to those in the state of Illinois police departments, which are less rigorous.
Introduction
Military veterans acquire certain job skills that many people just don’t have. Most jobs don’t require their employees to properly fire and maintain weapons or stay in top physical condition. However, one option military veterans have is using their unique skill sets in law enforcement.
Combat Experience Individuals with military experience make desirable law enforcement officers and bring a high level of training and dedication. In addition combat veterans are typically team-orientated professionals who exemplify the selfless commitment necessary to serve their communities as law enforcement officers. Military experience in one’s current time has given many veterans combat experience. This is possibly one of the most important factors for police agencies to consider because it means they have already been tested in high pressure, time-sensitive, life-and-death scenarios. Decision making in high-stress situations is an unknown for many officers. Someone without military experience might only discover this after a tragic event has already occurred. Many of the country’s military veterans have already made decisions under duress and know how they will react in similar situations. They have made split-second decisions based on evaluating a dynamic event as it is
Bibliography: Barcott, R. (2011). Retrieved from http://nasdvob.org/veterans-are-force- multipliers/#sthash.RG2WIViI.dpb Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Retrieved from http://www.ptb.state.il.us/pdf/POWER.pdf International Association of Chiefs of Police (2009). Employing returning combat veterans as law enforcement officers, pp10. Retrieved from http://www.theiacp.org/PublicationsGuides/ResearchCenter/Publications/tabid/29 9/Default.aspx?v=1&id=1194 Marine Corps order 6100.13 (2008). Retrieved from http://navyrotc.berkeley.edu/docs/MCO6100.pdf