Why do recruiters tell you Civilian departments won't hire military police?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:46:40 -0500

When I was looking for an MOS, my recruiter told me that civilian departments prefer NOT to hire USAR/ARNG MP's? Is this true or was he full of it?

EDIT: prefer not to hire USAR/ARNG and former MP's

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 1:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:47:59 -0500

I believe that a lot of this depends on the individual departments. Some will appreciate others, not so much.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 1:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:48:28 -0500

True story. Too many bad habits.

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 3 at 2016 1:50 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:50:45 -0500

From what i have seen, more populated areas do not want bad habits from other places coming into their department, more rural areas just need broader experiences. so what he said is partially true. when it comes down to it, it is all about you bringing to them what they need just as any other job.

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Mar 3 at 2016 1:52 PM

SFC Adam Potter — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:52:44 -0500

That would be his opinion he is voicing, not based on fact. I know for our Hospital Security force, they will only consider MP's as equivalent experience and training for their 2 year requirement. So take your recruiter's opinion for what you think it's worth.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 1:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:53:28 -0500

I speak from my own personal experience when I tell them. When I was first joining I first spoke to the local Oregon State Police office, they told me exactly that. They prefer not to hire prior Military Police. Some departments may he different, but can only say what I've been told.

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Mar 3 at 2016 1:53 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:53:52 -0500

I've seen this first hand.
A lot of departments won't hire you since you are either
critical person meaning you can't be really covered
you are part of a shift force and not having a person for long periods of time can cause them heartaches ( OT , coverage issues for non ARNG/USAR)

I highly think its very dependent on what department you are applying at

Source I have a few MP friends that tell me its hard for them to switch departments due to their status in USAR/ARNG

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 1:57 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:57:30 -0500

And anyone planning on joining as an MP/Reclass to take these responses as they are... I'd hate to see someone join with ambitions of becoming LEO and get turned down because they THOUGHT being an MP will help them

Response by SPC Paul Jennings, J.D. made Mar 3 at 2016 1:59 PM

SPC Paul Jennings, J.D. — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:59:46 -0500

The most common reason I hear is "bad habits," but generally that is untrue. Some MP's go their entire career without ever working the road. Most police departments don't care one way or the other about what you did in the Army, heck most don't even ask. The majority of large police departments simply ask on the application whether you served in the military, if you did what your discharge was, and if any negative actions were taken against you. Once you have the in person interview they may ask you what you did in the military, but even that isn't a guarantee.

Now MPs do tend to get hired less for law enforcement it seems, but that is for different reasons that really impact most military members. First, they have bad credit, it happens and this is the biggest thing that disqualifies people. Second, they have negative actions during their military time, this could include an Article 15, or similar things. Third, they just don't know how to interact with people. A bad interview and poor demeanor can torpedo an applicant real quick. However, when someone doesn't get a job they don't think it's for these reasons, instead it's easier to just say that the department must be biased against former MPs.

As for the reserves and national guard. I know plenty of MP's who are in both and the vast majority tend to also be civilian police officers, so it does vary.

Response by Cpl Bryan Whittaker made Mar 3 at 2016 2:00 PM

Cpl Bryan Whittaker — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:00:33 -0500

Cody, not sure why a civilian department would not hire a veteran. Was my experience though that they did not care who I was. Being a vet did not matter. I was trying to get hired back in the days of affirmative action and it was tough. Also being a vet doesn't make you more qualified than anyone else. In fact you might be behind the 8 ball so to speak if you were military police. Civilian policing is way different. Also I had to put myself through an academy just to be more marketable. A lot of places won't put the time or money into you if someone is already qualified like an academy graduate or a lateral hire. This is not always the way it is, just my experience. A majority of it depends on budgets and job markets.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 2:02 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:02:46 -0500

It is untrue for the most part, but your MOS and time in will not prepare you for the streets.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 2:07 PM

CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:07:34 -0500

I know a good amount of ex military police that are police on the outside so I dont know abou that one. Maybe those recruiters got passed over

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 2:17 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:17:17 -0500

Im in an MP unit. Half the MP's are city cops, state trooper, highway patrol or corrections

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 2:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 14:52:58 -0500

my last guard unit was an MP BN. at least half of the guys were civilian law enforcement. I think your recruiter is full of it.

Response by SSG Justin Reynolds made Mar 3 at 2016 3:43 PM

SSG Justin Reynolds — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:43:41 -0500

It's not true. Many departments look for that type of experience

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 4:14 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 16:14:49 -0500

It seems to depend on the department. Some like to hire MPs some don't.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Mar 3 at 2016 7:13 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:13:14 -0500

http://www.nmsp.dps.state.nm.us/index.php/lateral-applicantschool-information/

Lateral Applicant/School Information | New Mexico State Police

* Specific details regarding the requirements for active duty military police applicants can be located at NMAC 10.29.6.11.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Mar 3 at 2016 7:14 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:14:26 -0500

https://dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/post/documents/peace-officer-licensing-handbook.pdf

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Mar 3 at 2016 7:16 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:16:14 -0500

http://www.michigan.gov/mcoles/0,4607,7-229--292550--,00.html

SOM - 404 Page Not Found

You can try searching for your page using the search bar above, or choosing from one of the frequently-searched items below.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Mar 3 at 2016 7:16 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:16:31 -0500

https://dps.mn.gov/entity/post/exams/Pages/military-reciprocity-exam.aspx

Exams - Military Reciprocity Exam

If you have questions, please call Jeff Evans, testing and Licensing Coordinator at651-201-7784 Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Mar 3 at 2016 7:19 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 19:19:36 -0500

https://dojmt.gov/highwaypatrol/recruitment-applicant-info/

Recruitment: Applicant Info - Montana Department of Justice

Trooper Requirements (for entry-level and lateral applicants) The Montana Highway Patrol is looking for highly motivated individuals who can work with minimal supervision and are willing to go the extra mile to assist and protect the driving public. If you are interested in a rewarding career in law enforcement, join some of Montana’s finest men…

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 10:24 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 22:24:28 -0500

I am also available n an MP Company and my experience is the same, a large percentage of my unit are in law enforcement, private security or corrections, including myself.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 1:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 01:57:48 -0500

I've always been under the impression that it has to do with retraining local or state laws. It could be harder having to learn doing your job if your previous one had a different perspective. I'd say it all depends on how you interview than it does with your prior knowledge.

Response by TSgt William Meyer made Mar 5 at 2016 3:15 PM

TSgt William Meyer — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 15:15:29 -0500

I retired from the NYPD, now to get on you need a 4 year degree or 4 years active military service. Regardless you still have to go to the NYPD academy, we had one guy in my company that was former LAPD, and he had to go thru it all over again. I was also an active Army reserve MP and than in an Air Guard Security Forces Unit, both had many civilian LE guys and girls in them. It just depends on where you live and what you want to do.

Response by SFC Shane Funkhouser made Mar 6 at 2016 7:16 PM

SFC Shane Funkhouser — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 19:16:33 -0500

It is a myth for the most part. I was told the same thing even by police officers.
The basis being departments don't want to have to retrain you and break you of bad habits. Rules are different for some things on the civilian side. Things like needing a warant to search a vehicle or home in the civilian world.
But the truth is especially in the bigger cities they are more than happy to have a MP. Join the ranks, and the differences really are not that great and definitely not very hard to retrain.

Response by SGT Matt Schiess made Mar 8 at 2016 8:37 AM

SGT Matt Schiess — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 08:37:17 -0500

I don't think that's necessarily the case. I will mirror what SPC Jennings said and add that my former unit was LADEN with police officers. We deployed to Iraq in 2005 as MPs, and some took steps to keep their "new" second MOS (we were an artillery unit) after we got home. Around the time I left, just in my battalion we had 5 state troopers, 8 County Sheriff deputies, 2 Corrections Officers, 6 City officers, a US Marshal, and our former commander resigned so he could take a job as a Special Agent with the FBI. I don't really think we could have that happen with this bias in place. I think Jennings is correct in that it's more of a personal thing, meaning that the issue comes from the person not being prepared in some way, more so than a stigma or bias.

Response by CW3 Susan Burkholder made Mar 8 at 2016 12:01 PM

CW3 Susan Burkholder — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:01:54 -0500

1. Recruiters are notorious for inventing reasons to steer you towards a particular MOS that they are trying to fill. Go back on another day to a different recruiter and you'll probably get that MP entry you want. 2. There are indeed some civilian police departments that don't want to hire from the guard, but that usually has to do with employer discriminating against military. If you think this is not true, you have to realize there is a huge reason there are laws in place like USERRA trying to prevent such discrimination. I wouldn't let it stop you from pursuing a military police MOS or/and civilian law enforcement.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 12:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:34:57 -0500

Well, he is somewhat right but, also wrong.
It does matter if you are a 11B, 13F, or 31B
I have researched numerous departments. Majority will hire a former Betersn because of the discipline and able to teach them some new because a veteran learns quicker and able to absorb and comprehend faster and better. Yes veterans have bad habits but, they know how to work as a team. Plus, any law enforcement agency when they hire, they will send you to an academy or school. Once you graduate you have a year probation with a Field Training Officer (FTO).
The only reason he made that statement to you is because there is an overage of Military Police and just before I retired last year as a Senior Military Policeman. I dome to a instructor who was a E-7 at the NG/Reserve Training Brigade told me that the Guard/Reserve was trying to phase of the MP's and just have Cage Shakers and Kickers.
And most important thing is:
Recruiters lie‼️
Most likely he needed recruits in another MOS more than any other. So, he was trying to recruit for those MOS.
If you have your heart on being in a law enforcement field, "GO FOR IT"‼️

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Mar 9 at 2016 8:55 PM

PV2 Scott Goodpasture — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 20:55:19 -0500

He's a liar that's what recruiters do. Did he want you for a rifleman in the infantry instead or perhaps sweeping land mines as a combat engineer? They have quotas ya know.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2016 12:22 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 00:22:41 -0400

The answer is that a recruiter's job is to get a prospect interested in the Army, not just one MOS. It's likely a prospect will not qualify for MP or there won't be any training slots available and you don't want to lose a possible recruit who only wants MP. To that end, I tell prospects that police departments really don't care what MOS you held as long as you served honorably. Some recruiters go too far with that narrative, though. The reality is that being an MP won't get you hired as a civilian LEO any more than any other MOS.

Departments I have dealt with usually require either college or active military service. USAR/ARNG MPs who get hired to those departments were going to get hired anyway.

Response by PV2 Kenneth Booth made Jun 16 at 2016 10:18 AM

PV2 Kenneth Booth — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 10:18:41 -0400

Not true. I lived in Trophy Club TX and 90% of the force was ex military. Mostly MPs

Response by PV2 Kenneth Booth made Aug 2 at 2016 9:25 AM

PV2 Kenneth Booth — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 09:25:51 -0400

Come to Dallas TX. DPD will be more than happy to have you and right now they are increasing their ranks due to the shootings last month. Get on with DPD and you may even get fast tracked to swat due to your experience in clearing a scene and being able to post up and follow orders when the poop hits the fan.

Response by SGT Christopher Lachcik made Aug 31 at 2017 8:44 AM

SGT Christopher Lachcik — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 08:44:00 -0400

Most of them won't go out of their way to hire you instantly because you were an MP. There are a lot of bad habits I guess that we have that won't carry over easily for most departments. I would rather train a clean slate than a know-it-all attitude MP (most that I have met outside of active duty are those type).

Response by CPL Jason Northedge made Apr 29 at 2021 8:57 PM

CPL Jason Northedge — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:57:08 -0400

It's different strokes for different folks. One dept told me that they don't want to hear about any prior experience. Probably because some MPs make the civilian law enforcement look stupid.