What is the best RATE/MOS in any branch for getting law enforcement experience?

by **ezri** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:31 pm

Any branch. I'm looking into enlisting in the coast guard, and I wanted ME(Maritime Enforcement) but it appears there are 255 people on the waiting list and some have been on the list over 1.5 years. I do like the coast guard, but I don't want to wait 2 years just to start the job I want. I want to be in law enforcement after the military (if I decide to leave).

Is the coast guard worth the wait?

by **gustav** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:37 pm

You can still do law enforcement and not be an ME. Boarding teams consist of people of any rate. My last ship even had an HS on the boarding team. I was a GM and I was deeply involved in LE. It was sufficient for me to qualify and be hired as a Border Patrol agent. If you still want to join the USCG and not go ME, I would recommend GM or BM. GM would be better.

The Border Patrol requires either a degree or LE experience.

I would probably not do the wait, but go into another rate and get on the boarding teams.

**Looking at your additional details: I would suggest going USCG and getting on the waiting list. During that time you will be able to see what the other rates do and if you like them, you can change the list you are on. I would still suggest GM. GM's do a lot of LE related items, including conducting the firearms training. They are also tied very close to the LE operations. And as I said earlier, any rate can do LE. If you are on a larger cutter, with the exception of icebreakers, that is the purpose of going to see. The entire ship is there to conduct LE ops. Of course it does get tasked with other items, while out, and an occasional different type of mission, but generally that is the purpose.

by **hillocke** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:42 pm

I would wait for the Coast Guard. As someone else wrote, you can become a member of a boarding team regardless of your rate though. As a boarding team member, you are likely to get a lot of good experience. As far as the other branches, it really depends on where you are stationed and what you are assigned to do. Many military installations have federal civilian police officers doing most of the traditional law enforcement work. If you don't have a college degree, you should get one. Getting a college degree is one of the best things that you can do if you want to become a law enforcement officer. Regardless of when you enlist or with what branch, get a degree. You could always wait for the Coast Guard, and start taking classes at a local college while you're waiting. Best of luck!

by **jaren12** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:47 pm

I would wait for the Coast Guard. As someone else wrote, you can become a member of a boarding team regardless of your rate though. As a boarding team member, you are likely to get a lot of good experience. As far as the other branches, it really depends on where you are stationed and what you are assigned to do. Many military installations have federal civilian police officers doing most of the traditional law enforcement work. If you don't have a college degree, you should get one. Getting a college degree is one of the best things that you can do if you want to become a law enforcement officer. Regardless of when you enlist or with what branch, get a degree. You could always wait for the Coast Guard, and start taking classes at a local college while you're waiting. Best of luck!

If you don't want to wait for ME, its not much better in the other lists. All the rates with exception of OS and FS & aviation have at least 12 month waits. If you want to make it a career, then whats an extra 2 years waiting on a list..? You'll be learning a lot the whole time you wait..

by **spengler** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:04 pm

Police Departments don't care one way or another where you serve.

Any honorable service in any branch/MOS is just as good as any other.

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