How To Be A Maritime Law Enforcement In US Coast Guard?

[hanan]

Im thinking to join the US Coast Guard as a law enforcement because I want to be a police officer in my city...What do I need to do to bcome a law enforcement in the Coast Guard?...It is hard to become one?

[aenedleah10]

A Law Enforcement "job" in the Coast Guard manifests intelf in two ways: Rates and Quals.

Rates: You could choose to have a Law Enforcement focused career field. In the Coast Guard we call career fields for enlisted folks "rates". We have a rate called ME (Maritime Enforcement).

Quals: You could also practice Law Enforcement as part of a Small Boat Station, Cutter, MSST, SECTOR etc as a Boarding Officer(BO) or Boarding Team Member. Boarding Team Member(BTM) is our most basic Law Enforcement qualification where as the Boarding Officer is our most senior level Law Enforcement qual. To become a Boarding Officer you must attend Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and graduate from the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy. Upon graduation you must sit a board at your unit and your CO/OIC must sign a letter designating you a Boarding Officer.

While Boatswain's Mates(BM) and other rates can earn the Boarding Officer qual, expect as a ME you will have to earn BTM and BO as part of your career progression.

One thing to note, our Boarding Officers are Federal Law Enforcement officers in every sense of the word. So I would position the Coast Guard as a full time career alternative to being a state and local police officer. There are essentially equivalent career paths not a stepping stone.

I have a few friends who were police officers then joined the USCG to become Federal LE.

Also one minor thing, the Coast Guard also employs Special Agents. This is completely seperate topic, but that is another LE type career have as well. Usually our Special Agents come from the ranks of Coast Guardsmen.

I hope this helps you, and good luck with your career