Need Serious Life Changing Advice.

[Venus Pax]

Continue thinking & praying about it, but if this is what's on your heart, it's probably what you need to do.

[BrassMonkey]

Did nobody catch this? I second the below... For most people, becoming a police officer is a childhood dream. They begin to get exposed to is starting with PAL or whatever they call the kids groups round here.

I've been looking into SWAT School. I've been watching Dallas SWAT on TV the last 2 seasons and I'm addicted to that show. I told myself I really wanted to go do what those guys do for a living.

I'll try to break this to you gently... if you've never had a police job of any type (or even if you have), and you have such a burning desire to do what you see on "Dallas SWAT", then you're psychologically unsuitable to be a police officer of any type, much less SWAT.

[ccoker]

another option:

talk to the military recruiters and see about getting in with guaranteed schooling in the career field of your choice.
Do 4 years, you get experience and an education.


Then, apply for the police force, go to the police academy, graduate and work hard... prove yourself on the street and then see about SWAT

[NguyenVanDon]

I'm going to take someone advice here and give it a little more time. Police Academy Training doesn't start until September, so I got more to think about.

As of joining the military, I don't think I can endure what those guys go through. I have a friend that is deploy in Iraq and he said it's hostile over there. I asked him why he wanted pursue into the military, it's because his parents were divorce and he had just broken up with his longtime girlfriend. He dropped out of school because of depression. He felt like his life was going down the toilet. There was only one option to get away from the States and start off at a clean slate, so he joined the military in '05.

[Mage34]

I'm going to take someone advice here and give it a little more time. Police Academy Training doesn't start until September, so I got more to think about.

As of joining the military, I don't think I can endure what those guys go through. I have a friend that is deploy in Iraq and he said it's hostile over there. I asked him why he wanted pursue into the military, it's because his parents were divorce and he had just broken up with his longtime girlfriend. He dropped out of school because of depression. He felt like his life was going down the toilet. There was only one option to get away from the States and start off at a clean slate, so he joined the military in '05.

If you want to join think about the Navy.....they don't often see combat, but they do spend alot of time away from home...... I was in 7.5 years and spent 3 at sea away from my wife....always had my own bed and something to eat though...... and if you want to be an adrinelin junky, SEALs are the way to go for that.....

[seamusTX]

As of joining the military, I don't think I can endure what those guys go through. I have a friend that is deploy in Iraq and he said it's hostile over there. I asked him why he wanted pursue into the military, it's because his parents were divorce and he had just broken up with his longtime girlfriend. He dropped out of school because of depression.

I'm sorry for your friend, but he would probably feel bad anywhere.

As Mage34 said, you can avoid combat by joining the Navy or Air Force. Even the majority of people in the Army are never on the front lines.

I have another question, though; and I mean this as food for thought, not to belittle your ideas: Do you think being on a SWAT team is essentially different from being in combat? Yeah, the SWAT team members get to take showers and they don't eat sand, but in the heat of the moment it could be just as violent.

If we ever have more terrorist attacks in this country, SWAT is going to be there.

- Jim

[Xander]

...As of joining the military, I don't think I can endure what those guys go through. I have a friend that is deploy in Iraq and he said it's hostile over there....

Something else to think about....Don't make the mistake of believing that Iraq is the only hostile environment there is. My little sister found all of the hostility she could handle in a well-to-do suburb when she became an LEO. Not to discourage you at all, but to encourage you to spend time on the fact it's a serious career which deserves equally serious consideration about all the very important (and often times not so fun, or not so safe) bits of the job that *don't* appear on Dallas SWAT.

-Xander

[ccoker]

I served in the Navy, never in LE

I do have quite a few friends that are in LE and one friend who recently went through the academy, spent 2 weeks in Austin PD and quit due to the stress it was causing on him and his family...

it is NOT a glamour job, they deal with the dregs of society every day and are constantly being 2nd guessed and micromanaged by the administration and the media and of course the politicians...

I have the utmost respect for them and am very grateful to have them out there... but be aware it's a serious job

[BradGroux]

If I were you and you were serious about serving in the police force at any level I'd join the military, finish school and then you could nearly pick and choose where you'd want to go to serve as a peace officer... with military experience and a college degree you could do just about whatever you'd want to do as a peace officer, train for SWAT, become a detective, etc.

[carlson1]

A lot of misconceptions on LE. Military is good if that is what you want, but it will not place you on the STREET as an Officer. A ruff guess, but 90% of the agency hire already certified PO or from their own JAIL staff. They like to hire from inside out. Nothing, but a high school diploma is required.

[austin]

If you want training and some experience, then join the Army and go in as a Military Policeman (MP) or the Air Force as a Security Police (SP).

When you get out, assuming you don't re-enlist, ( most guys are re-upping), then you have a lot more options - contractor, LEO, State Troopers, or Federal Agencies.

But for now buckle down and get good grades.

[austin]

One more comment, I can recall being 22 and in college - life was easy.

It just gets harder and harder from here.

[McKnife]

Personally, if you can't handle school, you can't handle SWAT.

I'm tired of seeing officers with nothing but their GED patrolling streets with nothing but a power trip on their mind.

Heck, public schooling doesn't even go into details on the meaning and purpose of our individual rights until college (and that's only if you take the right class with a non-bias professor).

Ask any senior in high school why we have the 2nd amendment, and you'll understand.

My advice -- Diploma, Degree, then re-think SWAT.

PS -- I saw a police report yesterday in Austin and the deputy (i think)didn't know how to spell 'subpoena.' Oh Joy.

[txinvestigator]

I'm tired of seeing officers with nothing but their GED patrolling streets with nothing but a power trip on their mind.

So how many ya seen? Did you stop them and ask them about their schooling AFTER observing some behavior that would lead you to believe they were on a "power trip"

Frankly, I am tired of non-LEOs who live in the child ego state and are offended and complain about ANY authority.

[pbandjelly]

werd.