If I join the National Guard, Will I be able to do the police acadamy if I still have weekend drill?

2018-11-06T00:45:54-05:00

I am extremely interested in joining the National Guard, I also want to become a Law Enforcement Officer eventually. I am about halfway done with my college degree and want to serve my community and my country. How is National Guard experience viewed by law enforcement agencies? And how difficult is it to be both a LEO and a soldier in the National Guard?

Response by SrA John Monette made Nov 6 at 2018 12:52 AM

2018-11-06T00:52:06-05:00

you will be able to do some academies. when I went through Basic Law Enforcement Training in NC, it was held at the community college. I went Monday- Friday from 1600-2200. we had to go a couple of Saturdays for firearms and driving. there were a couple in my academy who were in the Guard. the department where I work now sends rookies to a 12 week academy in Little Rock Arkansas. needless to say, any Guard members won't be able to fly back to Connecticut for their weekend drills. I'm sure they are able to work something out with their Guard units.
Join the Air Guard or Air Force Reserves. Go Security Forces.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 6 at 2018 2:18 AM

2018-11-06T02:18:16-05:00

In Ohio where I went through the academy the easy answer is a yes! They had a Saturday morning driving course but we had several fro the reserve and guard there and they changed it to allow the other times! In Ohio you're given extra credit if taking the employment test and you can also get tax breaks so it was a definite plus

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 6 at 2018 5:44 AM

2018-11-06T05:44:00-05:00

Should be able to talk to your commander - after all none will expect you to subsist only upon your Guard's drill pay check.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 6 at 2018 6:04 AM

2018-11-06T06:04:50-05:00

We had numerous state, sheriff, and local police in our Bn, and Brigade.

Response by MSgt George Rumbaugh made Nov 6 at 2018 7:53 AM

2018-11-06T07:53:02-05:00

Many law enforcement agencies give veterans additional points when testing for a position within their department. However, police academies can be challenging and you'll spend much of your free time, including weekends, studying and practicing defensive tactics, etc. Performing NG duties on a weekend may affect your grades.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Nov 6 at 2018 8:17 AM

2018-11-06T08:17:52-05:00

I went through an academy program at a local Junior College as an alternate to the full time police academy. You cover all the same material in both, but in additional to criminal justice related training you are also working towards a degree. I did that while under a special AF Reserves program that allowed me to schedule my monthly duties as well as my 2 week obligation. It was definitely a juggling act between school/academy, military requirements and a full time job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2018 11:30 AM

2018-11-06T11:30:24-05:00

Yes, you get a drill excuse. You drill for like a month straight to cover for the dril weekends you miss. That’s what i did. My academy was 6 months long

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2018 11:58 AM

2018-11-06T11:58:08-05:00

I did it. I was already in as a Reserve Soldier. If your Academy is M-F it wont be a problem, as mine was. I am not sure of those that are resident Academies where you live in barracks/rooms as in many State

Response by CPL J Sannizzaro made Nov 6 at 2018 12:12 PM

2018-11-06T12:12:13-05:00

Yes. They will work well with you, for training and such. I worked city, county, state and federal law enforcement and had to go to 3 different academies without any problems. And every agency I was with worked well with my weekend and annual training. Good luck and stay safe.

Response by SGT Tim McCarthy made Nov 6 at 2018 12:49 PM

2018-11-06T12:49:20-05:00

Finish the academy, then join. Most if not all LEA's will accommodate your drill and training schedule.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Nov 6 at 2018 9:02 PM

2018-11-06T21:02:43-05:00

That will have to be something you work out between the police academy AND your unit. The good news is, most of the time there is a good working relationship between Guard and local police departments. I know of a few soldiers who were able to coordinate their time at the police academy as split training for their Guard time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2018 6:55 PM

2018-11-07T18:55:14-05:00

I’m the training coordinator for an academy in Missouri. It is up to your command to make attendance easy or difficult. In Missouri, you can only miss 40 hours of the academy and there are no exceptions for battle assembly or annual training. I would have a conversation with your leadership before you start the academy.

Response by SFC David Bentley made Nov 8 at 2018 2:18 AM

2018-11-08T02:18:36-05:00

Just to be real with you pick a job. From a work-life balance perspective, it depends on what you want to bring to the table. As a rookie cop, you will be dedicating 100% of your time to the PD. An E1 right out of AIT you are not bringing that much to the table, you don't have enough experience from the Army to really matter to your FTO who is in all likelihood a VET himself. If you were a 11BV20 back from Afghanistan then you might have something to say. My advice is to pick one job and do it 100%. By all means, join the military if your called to serve but I would dissuade you from trying to start both at the same time.