Should I go into Trucking or law enforcement?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:51:01 -0400

Been out now over a year.....don't know if I can really wait for school long stupid requirements to get a bachelor's degree....been thinking of entering the trucking industry but not sure if I should just stick it out and be a cop...or just get into trucking and make money as much as I work...I earn...single no kids.....don't know what to do anymore...feel lost as f+@#$..
..

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 27 at 2016 2:56 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:56:59 -0400

Go with what you like to do. The money will take care of itself, and once you get into your civilian career the social aspects will fall into line too.

Getting involved in your work will take your mind off of the emptiness we feel during the transition into the civilian world, and your co-workers will be a major part of your new social life.

Good luck, and soldier on!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 27 at 2016 2:58 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:58:26 -0400

Get a part-time job and go to school full time while taking advantage of your Post 9/11 GI Bill. The government literally PAYS you to go to school.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jul 27 at 2016 3:04 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 03:04:40 -0400

Go trucking for a while, see the country. Being on the road gives a guy time to think and ponder things. May help get you the answer you want.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Jul 27 at 2016 3:32 AM

SSG Byron Hewett — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 03:32:54 -0400

SPC Perez,
I just sent you a message check your RallyPoint message box

Response by SPC Tom Maddox made Jul 27 at 2016 5:55 AM

SPC Tom Maddox — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 05:55:43 -0400

Try trucking

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jul 27 at 2016 5:57 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 05:57:17 -0400

Please, Please, Please....DO NOT become a cop. The last thing this country needs is another person who becomes a cop because they couldn't think of anything better to do. If becoming a cop was not plan A, DON'T DO IT!

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jul 27 at 2016 6:46 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 06:46:59 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Can you drive a truck at this point? It might be possible to take a professional truck-driving class to see if you have the aptitude and where you learn to drive a big rig and test for a CDL at the course's end. Maybe your GI benefits would go toward paying for such training. As a fairly young person (assumed) you have plenty of years to settle on a permanent career, as SGT Gregory Lawritson noted you don't have to jump right in there. Best wishes whichever direction you go.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 27 at 2016 6:56 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 06:56:32 -0400

Nothing to Tie You Down. Plenty of Options it sounds like. Trucking I hear can pay pretty good but none of the Truckers that I have met impressed me as Wealthy Though but not a bad place to start.

Response by Sgt Chris Lima made Jul 27 at 2016 8:07 AM

Sgt Chris Lima — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 08:07:34 -0400

Go to college, it's easy. If you have that "hole" in your life that many people feel after military service, sitting all day in a truck by yourself might give you TOO much time to think about it. Everybody is different, but that might not be the best thing for you. While being a cop would give you that sense of brotherhood back, it's not something you should go in to unless you REALLY want to be a cop.

Here's my case for college: The post 9/11 GI bill is awesome. I used the Montgomery bill for my first year until the 9/11 came out. It's worth it. You get paid BAH at a rate of E-5 with dependents (even though you have none).

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

They pay for the college 100% and you get a book stipend every semester which is usually more than books cost. For a single guy, that's plenty to live on in most places if you keep your expenses down.

Full time college really isn't "full time." You go to class maybe 2-3 days per week for a few hours and do your assignments on a pretty flexible schedule. You have plenty of time to have a part time job if you want one. For the first year or two, you're just doing pre-requisites, so you really don't have to make a decision about what you want to major in. It's boring, but think about it this way: you're getting PAID to sit in class. It's actually kind of a stress reliever to sit and think about new ideas without any real responsibility for a while.

Here's the best part: the girls. You're older, more experienced, and generally way cooler than other college guys. You can buy beer. Girls will be impressed. (I am not advocating providing alcohol to minors). The Beastie Boys said it best: "college girls are easy."

I started college at 25, got a degree in teaching (ALL girls, btw), was a teacher for 4 years, now I work for the DOD. I highly recommend that you take this time to relax and decompress; college is a great way to do that. If you want any advice in that area (using the GI bill, navigating the VA, etc...), I would be more than happy to help, I've done it for lots of people. Feel free to PM me.

-Chris

BAH Calculator

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Jul 27 at 2016 8:50 AM

Col Dona Marie Iversen — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 08:50:01 -0400

SPC Perez,
Due to the current job situation many positions above a 'staff' level will require at least a Bachelor's Degree. Many online options and CLEP programs available.

Research FEMA-Emergency Management Certificates, numerous on line & free classes. Or you may attend onsite to get a degree in EM. Programs are very interesting and marketable.

If you decide to get your CDL, explore the country, experience the 'white line fever'. On the open roads you will have time to accomplish deep thinking and soul searching. Being an over the road truck driver is stressful, isolating, lonely & dangerous.

Don't be so harsh on yourself. Find some solitude by working out, walking on a beach to clear your head and hopefully you may think of industry that you have not thought of yet. Just remember you must apply your current skill set, determination, motivation and core values in whatever you do. Do NOT take any job just for the money, will not buy you happiness.

Many PD require at least 60 credits toward a degree.

Dig deep into yourself, seek clarity and you will find a passion in what you REALLY want to do.

Best Wishes!

Aim High!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 9:27 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:27:54 -0400

I would use your benefits and go to college. Try to work in a few different jobs while attending college. Make sure that you do a paid internship after the junior year. Your benefits will pay enough for you to support yourself.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jul 27 at 2016 10:29 AM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 10:29:04 -0400

Law Enforcement.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jul 27 at 2016 10:30 AM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 10:30:28 -0400

Law Enforcement, especially a State Trooper.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 27 at 2016 11:07 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 11:07:42 -0400

Do what you enjoy and make money from it. That is the best advice I can give.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 11:09 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 11:09:29 -0400

With the trucking company, there is always availability for drivers. From what I've heard that there is still a shortage for drivers. If you don't have a CDL, there are companies out there that will send you to school to get your license; but be weary of them. In order to pay them back, you have to work for them for x amount of time and they take your tuition out of your paycheck. My husband went to school through a company and at his 11 month of being with the company, they fired him, sticking him with the rest of his trucking "student loan". While he was able to fight it off, it was a rocky road with him and the company. He did get with another one and did well (around 3,000/wk but he was gone 3 weeks at a time with only 2 days off during the month).

There are several ways that you can make money. Majority of companies will need OTR (over-the-road) drivers; meaning riding through CONUS and sometimes Canada (depending on load and company). There are regional (3-5 states) and dedicated (local) routes with companies but you have to be there (meaning, you can't take a local job in Dallas but live in Arkansas). So if you have a family, make sure to discuss it with them to see if it's a good idea for all of you. If you're single, then think it over and do your research.
There's also the endorsements (HAZMAT, Doubles, Tanker, etc.) that which you will need to have in order to take some jobs. Some companies will pay for the training/test and some you will have to go on your own to the DMV to get that done and pay out of pocket, if necessary. I know that in the state of IN, you can go to a DMV and get your tanker endorsement through a test; they even give you a study guide.

The cop idea, while you will be going to an academy, you'll have to wait to see if the department wants you as a candidate, and the application process can take a while. If you choose to go this route, make sure to apply to a few law enforcement agencies in your area. One may pop up yet not work out but you still have 2 other opportunities.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice some things in order to get what you want; we all know about that. Either way, you can have a great career in both lines of occupations.

Good luck to you.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 11:15 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 11:15:07 -0400

I used to say that if I had not been a career LEO, I might have been an OTR driver. I think I would have enjoyed the solitude and the scenery. But I did the police route instead. That said, going into law enforcement today requires a mental attitude that is 1000% prepared to face all the SHIT you are going to encounter. This is NOT a profession for the faint-hearted, the physically weak, or, in this case, someone who might only be looking at it as a job. Most people I knew who failed in law enforcement did so because they feel into one of those three critical categories. And Failure Is Not An Option in law enforcement.

Response by CPO Arthur Garcia made Jul 27 at 2016 1:27 PM

CPO Arthur Garcia — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:27:31 -0400

How young are you? When I retired I joined the ranks of law enforcement it gave me the structure that military service does, but I was 38. I was not eligible for Federal LE. But because local doesn't discriminate on age I applied and got hired. Many agency's don't require a degree, there out there. Trucking is great good money but you're away from family and ton. And your body will take a toll.

Response by TSgt William Meyer made Jul 27 at 2016 6:27 PM

TSgt William Meyer — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:27:01 -0400

I was a cop for 21 years, if it was me now, considering what's happening around the country, I'd go with trucking.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 27 at 2016 11:08 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 23:08:14 -0400

Trucking requires a special type of person. I did it for awhile but it wore on me quickly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 1:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 13:07:29 -0400

Go to college first; law enforcement and truck driving are always available. You have the GI Bill or post 9/11 money for school; take advantage of it. Another option is to take a trade; four years and you will be a journeyman making a solid income. You would be supplemented by the GI Bill for that too. Then take two more years of college to become a cost estimator, superintendent, or a foreman.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 11 at 2016 1:18 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 13:18:51 -0400

Well, to be a cop nowadays, most departments usually want you to complete the long stupid requirements to get a bachelors degree.....

Bottom line: finding a good paying job is not easy, and most require either experience/skills or education. Investing in either one takes time and patience.