How is the life of being a law enforcement officer while in the Reserves or National Guard?

PVT Toby Poole — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 02:55:05 -0400

If I decide not to go active duty when I reenlist and instead go reserves or national guard, I plan on becoming a police officer and hopefully a federal agent one day. I know both of those things can be difficult to get into, but I'm a planner so I like to try and know as much as I can before I make any decisions.

For those of you who are currently serving part time, and are in a law enforcement position full time, or even know someone who's doing so: I know it's not easy, but is it truly that difficult? How do the schedules work and do they often conflict? Do you feel your current military service has helped, hindered, or not affected your law enforcement career? Did you join the military first or the law enforcement position?

Any information that you could provide about this topic as a whole, regardless of if I asked about it or not, would be greatly appreciated. Other First-Responders or demanding jobs such as Firefighters and EMTs who have insight are also welcome to say so, as I know your schedules can be just as hectic.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 6:36 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 06:36:38 -0400

When I left active duty I went to the reserve and joined the police department. My military discipline and other skills learned in the military helped make the transition to civilian law enforcement easy for me.

It can be difficult at times, most rookie cops work nights and weekends, so when you have your battle assembly weekends the time change will suck, but it is manageable.

I work for a big city department so when my unit deployed it was no big deal for the city to let me go for a year ... I have heard stories from others who were from small departments or agencies that frowned upon their reserve service... So keep that in mind when you are deciding what department to join.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 28 at 2018 7:33 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 07:33:58 -0400

Had a guy in Bn. Hq. that was a police officer, and we had several other within the Bn. One was even my C O.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jul 28 at 2018 9:51 AM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 09:51:17 -0400

I was a police officer and a member of both the Army and then the Air Guard while I was a police officer. I never had a problem. You let your supervisor know your drill dates and then you keep up with it so that they schedule you off for those dates.

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Jul 28 at 2018 3:40 PM

CSM Eric Biggs — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 15:40:23 -0400

My active duty experience has helped me greatly as a Deputy Sheriff. Ensure your supervisor has your drill schedule, and if there are date changes let them know right away. Schedules may over lap, and the military will have to take presidencie. There will be times between the two you will miss out on things with family but that is law enforcement and military life each on their own.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 4:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 16:08:30 -0400

When I was in the National Guard I was a police officer. The first thing I would say is that you should be more concerned about the present. You are a PVT and you should focus on your career first and advancing it rather than the next 4 years. Just like in military planning we have the Long Range and Short Range Calendars. When you have a long term plan you need to work backward with it all the way back to today. What can you do this week to work toward that goal. You can't have directions with no movement.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Jul 28 at 2018 4:18 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 16:18:42 -0400

I was in the Army reserves 6 years became a police officer. I was out the military 7 years and during that time I got into law enforcement. I loved both or my careers so I recently join the guard this year and is deployed now. I LOVE doing both and if it wasn't for the military then I wouldn't have two great careers I CAN ENJOY. the military trump my law enforcement schedule but I would not give it up for nothing.

WHat state are you in the guard?

what state do you want to do law enforcement in?

Are you the right age also and also get some college credits while you are waiting to become a police officer.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 28 at 2018 5:00 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 17:00:40 -0400

I was Active Duty Army, got out and was hired by a municipal police department. After a break in service, I joined the Air National Guard (while still in LE). I later switched to the IMA program in the Air Force Reserve. I retired from LE after 31 years with the same agency. I am still in the Reserves.

Civilian LE in the Guard/Reserve is very common. Probably 25% of my Guard unit were civilian LE. Approximately 50% of my last unit were civilian LE. My current unit contains approx 30% Civilian LE. So being a cop and being Guard/Reserve is pretty common.

While it is PC for government agencies to support the military, from a practical standpoint it’s hard on them to lose employees for 6 months to a year if they get activated. With all the deployments that the Guard/Reserve have had since 2001 some departments are hesitant to hire Guard/Reserve members because they are worried about losing them for long periods of time. That being said, they will never admit that they didn’t hire someone because of that reason though. On top of that, if you are in a traditional reserve unit you will have to do 2 days every month and 2 weeks a year of military duty. The good thing about working for the government is that you will get military leave time and still get paid by your agency while you are away. However, standard law enforcement works a 24 hour schedule, 7 days a week. As a new hire, you will most likely work weekends. Asking for one weekend off every month so you can perform military duties could be tough on an agency.

Being LE and in the Reserves can be done as many of us do it. But there can be scheduling difficulties depending on your LE assignment. When I worked Detectives and had weekends off it wasn’t a burden. But when I worked Patrol it was more difficult.

However, the IMA program (reserve assigned to a active duty unit) solves all my scheduling difficulties. As I create my own schedule and perform my military duties when I choose.

If I were you, I get out and not go in the Reserves right away. I would get hired, complete my probation and then join the Reserves. You will lose a year or two of potential military time. But at least they can’t use your Reserve duty as a reason not to hire you. Plus, after you are on the Dept they can’t prevent you from joining.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 14 at 2019 9:32 AM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 09:32:53 -0400

I once thought of doing this but it wasn't in the cards. I have a lot of respect for officers, troopers, deputies, and wardens. Others in the field too.