You may ask yourself, Will the ROTC Prepare Me for Law Enforcement? We have those answers here for you. Follow along to learn more.
Many law enforcement officers today have a military background. It’s become a common career track: military service, retirement or discharge, and a second career in law enforcement. Veterans can use many of the skills they developed during their active duty as law enforcement officers, and for many, the early training of ROTC is also valuable. So is the ROTC good preparation for law enforcement?
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What is Army Military Police Training?
ROTC graduates interested in law enforcement would do well to take positions in the military police. Army military police training refers to the specialized training that new recruits to the branch receive following their basic training. During this training, recruits are not only responsible for maintaining their physical health, but they are taught how to lead and be responsible for the security of military bases across the globe. A military police job description includes the skills of leadership and efficiency in order to be successful as a military police officer. Also, a military police officer’s salary is approximately $51,000 according to Payscale.
How Do I Become a Police Officer?
For students looking to join the U.S. Army or another military branch immediately following their college graduation, they are able to get initial training through the ROTC. An ROTC program, in the beginning, allows students to accustom themselves to a routine and physical fitness plan that will keep them Army ready. During this program, they are able to achieve the fundamentals necessary without making an initial military commitment. Students will be able to lead small units upon their graduation from this program and entrance into the U.S. Army, where they have an understanding of the Law of War, weapons, and military operations that they may utilize during their military career.
ROTC Jobs
For those enrolled in an ROTC program, there are several ROTC jobs where they can gain fundamentals for different positions in the law enforcement after graduation. From military police officers to other types of law enforcement, there is something available for those who want to wear the uniform after completing an ROTC program. Because of their advanced training in leadership, they are often promoted to supervisor and management positions within the Army ranks. Other positions that they take after ROTC include Air Defense Artillery Officer, Aviation Office, and Engineer Officer just to name a few. Wherever the cadet’s interest lies, they are able to pursue a career in that field of some capacity, and often at a leadership rank.
After a higher-level position in the military, retired personnel can qualify for higher-level positions in law enforcement as well. The leadership skills developed in the military translate smoothly to law enforcement and security careers.
Of course, no one is required to stay in the military after the ROTC. If you’ve received a scholarship, you must serve, but anyone else can go straight from the ROTC to graduate school or careers. Many veterans choose careers in law enforcement, but there are also many who choose homeland security, government agencies like the FBI or CIA, or go to law school.
After ROTC What Happens?
After ROTC has concluded, students have the option to move into several areas. If they decide to serve in the military, they are ready to enlist. They choose the military branch in which they want to serve, and when they sign up for boot camp. Once they go through the initial weeks of training, they are then assigned a job and may have further training to prepare them for that particular career field. With their ROTC experiences under their belt, they are able to trek through promotions quickly, which gives them more responsibility and a higher pay raise.
They also have the option of ROTC law school. Those who are enrolled in ROTC and attending law school, they are able to take their program to a unique level, where their military future is strengthened by the education that they will receive. The Air Force actually has a graduate law program for those who want to establish a foundation in the legal sector while potentially serving their country at the same time. They are able to then flow quickly through the ranks once they enlist after graduation and have a significant military career.
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