Is it better to branch in something not similar to your civilian job?

If you are earnestly jonesin' to be a cop, then I would go with MP. Military-grade law enforcement training (i.e. directly applicable experience complementing your resume, which very well may come in handy when you are up for Detective/Sergeant, Capt., etc....I smell a pay raise). The synergy of civilian and military training - plus your developing experience - will undoubtedly enable you to not only be a better cop, but also to be even more respected within your department and community. I imagine the more inclusive experience might also bring you much more palpable job fulfillment, benefits, and a STRONG NETWORK that can attest to your skills (i.e. personal branding, accolades, letters of recommendation, trust, hot dates with a huge uniform fetish....and so on).

As far as I can see, the downsides are the potential burn-out from dealing with bullshit (on the beat and in the office), and personal risk of injury or death, but my guess is you have already made peace with those facets of law enforcement. That said, military training can develop and strengthen poise, critical thinking, problem solving and attention to detail ....skills that can help you avoid similar incidences that have been exposed in the media which gave framework to the BLM movement and others in kind. I think you will be put in an equitable position to develop a more articulate level of judgement, enabling you to fare better than those who did not benefit from military training.

Other than that, if you do go the MP route, take it from me - Don't rub your eyes after getting blasted with capsacin! It's a total drag, man! Thanks in advance for your service.

Two kinds of regret. Regretting what you've done, and regretting what you haven't done.

It's your story to write...
So go and write it.

It all depends on what you see as best for you. I have many NCO in my reserve units that are cops and base security and with Infantry being our MOS it helps them but there really isn't a right or wrong answer here it's all what you think is best for you.

You really need to consider your military career goals and look at the state where you plan to serve. In the National Guard, you're typically better off staying in one state, because promotions are decided within the state. If your goal is to make O-4 and the state you choose has an MP Battalion, then you stand a reasonable chance of meeting your goal. If your goal is O-6 or higher and the state only has two MP companies but does have an Infantry Brigade and an Engineer Brigade, you might need to consider branching where there's greater growth opportunity. If you plan to do 4 years and out, then do whatever you want - but prepare to flex early if you decide to stay in after all. I personally like to do different things on the weekend.

I've seen it done both ways. I was in a MP unit that had a ton of civilian police and they seemed to love it. On the flip side I served with a guy who a lawyer on the civilian side, but held a PsyOp job in the Reserves. When I asked him why he didn't become a JAG officer he told me that the last thing he wanted to do on the weekends was powers of attorney and wills. For him being in the Reserves was pretty much a way to break the monotony of his daily grind.

This will require a lot of soul searching.

On one side, doing the same job in two different industries gives you a major advantage compared to peer and against the learning curve.

On the other side, the economy in most recent years have shown two separate careers are best for doing more than "just getting by". There's also an unique perspective and specialization you can potentially merge into the other.

I started as IT/TACCOM's (end user level tech support), but was always creating music and in the gym. I've merged these skills to create exercise tutorials with original music, for example.

Look 50 years ahead and figure out what positive changes you want to be able to say you've made in life and why. Then fill it in with the how, when, and where.

I personally want to do something different at drill than I do the rest of the month. That being said, I work at a desk the rest of the month. For a career in law enforcement, being an MP may be beneficial to have on your resume. But anything in combat arms may do that as well.

Well there are a lot of things to consider...

I'm guessing you're in some type of SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) with the Guard.
You didn't say what state you live in but I see you're at Georgetown in DC...

Look at the promotion potential that your state has to offer in both branches since I'm guessing that you aren't going active duty or into the USAR. Some branches have more opportunities in one state as opposed to another... If you are looking to stay in for 20 years make sure to do you IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield) and know if there are enough slots to make it worth your while. Also since you haven't graduated from college yet, do you know where you are going to live and work? Make sure that the unit is near where you are going to live and work after you graduate and not where you live now.

Since you want to go into law enforcement you didn't state what type you were looking into... Local law enforce (being a Cop) is far different from federal law enforcement (1811/Special Agent).

Commissioned Officers in the MP Branch aren't really doing what "police officers" do since they are leadership roles such as PLT LDR, Company XO, Company CDR, BN S2/S3, BN XO, BN CDR, and so on... Being a civilian officer will give you insight and credibility with your troops if they know, you know, what they are talking about.

If you want to go CID you can't be a commissioned officer only Warrants and Enlisted personnel can be CID Special Agents.

I hope that I haven't confused you... I started as an enlisted Automated Logistical Supply Specialist and commissioned a Chemical Officer who branch transferred to MP. I've never been a civilian police officer but my military career set me up for success in a number of different areas.

Good luck and I wish you all the best!

I went MP for expirence alit of civilian police in my unit still no guarantee of a civilian police job by being an MP but it can give you a lot of expirence that may help when you go to a civilian academy.

Branch out and do something different. Going law enforcement will only add conflict in both careers. "That's not how we do it in the real world". My buddy went infantry in the Marine Reserves and it was about as 180 from his civilian job as you can get and he loved it that way.