College of Liberal Studies

SGT William Howell - Many of the police forces around the nation are beginning to require a degree to be considered for employment. Others are giving bonuses and promotions only with advanced degree's achieved. With that being said many police departments suggest degrees in sociology, psychology, leadership, etc as well as computer science and STEM programs. We aren't recruiting kids out of high school. Our programs are designed to give working adults that have been working in their chosen fields a leg up for advancement opportunities.

HN LaDawn Jones - And that I agree with. Without a degree most larger departments will not promote to executive command staff positions. That is when a Criminal Justice degree will not only help with advancement, but in actually combating crime. That is when command develops patrol strategies being able to understand things like the Minneapolis Experiment, Community Oriented Policing, Broken Windows, and so on are the most important. At that point in an officers life he has committed to retiring from police work. Unfortunately, there are those young vets that are wanting to go into police work and they choose a CJ degree thinking that will give them the edge. When what they need for an edge is a degree that will make them stand out like a BS. The added benefit of a real degree is that when they discover police work is not the cool kick ass job that is shown on TV they will have the ability to make a decent living outside police work because of a practical 4 year degree in something that companies are looking for. It's all I am saying. It just sucks working in a sales bullpen as a 36 year old combat veteran surrounded by 20 somethings that all decided that somehow a Liberal Arts degree was going to get them a corner office and a fat paycheck. My only saving grace was I actually have a work ethic, unlike the snowflakes I was surrounded by and knew things are not just handed to you.

SGT William Howell - Do you think some of your negative results may come from your negative personality? Just saying

SSG Lyle O'Rorke - Actually, I have a very positive attitude, just a low tolerance for bullshit. I feel like I have done pretty well for myself even with a useless degree. You seem to mistake practical first hand knowledge for negativity.

Just a couple weeks ago I was in an interview for a promotion with my regional manager and the vice president of my company I was told by my regional, "Bill, sometimes I can't believe some of the things you say, but I do know that when you say them it is the truth." And my vice president told me I am one of a handful of people that he would trust to call while he was out of town to go to his house and help his wife. I took both of those as some of the greatest compliments one can receive by people that I respect.

The point of the story was this. One, I am honest and I don't coat it with bullshit. I have a firm belief of, "Don't ask me a question if you don't want to hear the answer." and "If you make a statement and it is incorrect information I will correct you when and where it is appropriate". Two, I am loyal. If you are one of about 5 of my closest friends you can call me at 3am and I will show up and help you bury bodies if that is what is needed. I am also loyal to my fellow brother and sisters who have served along side of me. When someone is trying to guide my fellow warfighters into something that I believe to be not a true representation of what they are saying and may be a life long regret I have a duty to speak out and share the information that I have learned. That fits into about 5 of the 7 Core Army Values. So it "negativity" or a kick ass moral compass?

So you say, "Negative Attitude" and I say, "Butt hurt, because I called bullshit."