Which branch of the military is best for me?

Question

I am 20, have a full time job, but have no room for advancement, i am very interested in criminal justice and would love to become a cop, but i understand it is easier to get into a career such as this with a military background, i basically want to go into the military, and have them set me up for schooling and what not to become what i want to be, any help on which branch of the military is best for me would be greatly appreciated. i do not want to go into the army just because id rather not go to iraq and what not, so i was thinking more a long the lines of coast guard or air force. PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

I want, I want, I want.

All branches go to Iraq.  You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Answer 2

You are joining the armed services for all the wrong reasons so I could care less which you join or which would help you!

Answer 3

The USAF Security Forces offers a great start to a law enforcement career. I was a Security Policeman for 6 years and enjoyed it, enjoyed the training and the assignments. I had time to work on my degree in Law Enforcement as well. The Air Force paid 80% of my tuition as long as I maintained a 3.0 Grade Pont Average. If you have the chance,ask a recruiter about Air Force Law Enforcement AFSC if they still have the career divided into two areas. Law Enforcement works on base security (monitoring traffic, responding to crimes, writing citations, investigation of crimes and riding in the squad car)....Security Police (Security Forces) works on Flightline security....(guarding the aircraft, the weapons systems, the flightline, etc...) more of a security guard type job.

Answer 4

Coast guard won't give you much of a boost when it comes to being a cop.  If you'd rather not go to Iraq, then don't join because you will go, no matter what branch minus the navy or coast guard.  If you truly want to be prepared for a police position through military training, be an MP or infantry guy in the Army or Marines.  You'll see some combat and be well suited for a career in law enforcement.

Answer 5

i don't really think it matters as long as u are serving ur country  

Answer 6

The two best military units for what you are describing are the Navy and the Marine Corps . they both have programs like you describe and they are not that hard to get into . You might even get a guaranteed position with one of them if they have the program ( exact ) that you want but you will have to check with recruiters to find out .

Answer 7

As a Navy MA you would learn how to do LEO duties.

Get good pay, travel, see the world and grow up a bit.

You might see combat, you might not. A lot of military will never see combat.

With hundreds of military bases all over the world, they all need personnel to maintain them.

Answer 8

I don't know what branch is best...I was in the Navy and I enjoyed it. I don't get seasick, and I can swim (a little).

All the branches of the military have police. They are all called something different depending on which branch you go in. Basically you get to drive around base checking locks and looking for speeders. (among other duties)

You can also go to a hostile area (like war) and do security forces. It is tough and dangerous.

In the Navy when you are at sea, you are the security for the ship. You help keep order...and security.

I would think one of the better schools for military police is in the Air Force. Many of the other branches send people to the AF to be trained. However, all branches train their own too.

Why not just apply at a local law enforcement agency before you enlist. You would be more guaranteed to actually do police work as a civilian.  

Don't get me wrong military police do police work, but they are also in the military and have other jobs and responsibilities. You could get stuck at a desk somewhere issuing supplies or buffing floors too. You could spend countless hours at a front gate checking IDs.

You have to think about the good with the bad.

It is up to you.

Answer 9

I believe the branch that would suite you best would defiantly be the Coast Guard The Coast Guard does not send its troops to war but instead are kept around the U.S. to guard its waters. They are mainly involved with catching high profile drug traffickers and rescue which would be good experience for serving as a police officer along with the combat arms experience you would get as all coasties carry a sidearm. It is quite a unique expierience quite different to the other branches of the military that allows you to serve your country without sending you to war. The only problem is that I do not believe the USCG has an ROTC program that pays completely for college unless you attend the Coast Guard Academy. They do have a program that pays for 2 years of education so you would have to use your salary to pay for the rest. I hope this helped and good luck with your decision.

Answer 10

Jason,

Let me get this straight....

You're asking us to help you to join the military for YOUR own selfish reasons.

"I basically want to go into the military...set me up for schooling.."

"...To become what I want to be...."

"...is best for ME"

"I'd rather not go to Iraq...."

Jason, what about service for others? What about serving your country? Do you realize how many military have been to Iraq multiple times - do you think they wanted to go?

I'll tell you what, Jason. I was an Air Force cop. We were team players. Selfish (I want, I want, I want) cops were really frowned upon. We wanted team players, guys who had our backs.

Same thing when I was a civilian cop.

"Ranger"

Answer 11

I won't be as crude about it as the poster who said he didn't care because you were thinking of joining for all the wrong reasons but...that poster has a point.

Like it or not and agree with it or not, the U.S. is involved in a war and the military's job is to fight that war ~ it's not a prep school. When I joined the Air Force, fighting in a real war where I could get killed was the furthest thing from my mind. I thought the idea of the snazzy blue uniform was super cool! When my name came up for a trip to beautiful South Vietnam I had been in the AF for about 8 years and it was time to suck it up and do what the American people paid me to do ~ go to war. If you join any branch your primary consideration must be doing what the American people are paying you to do and what you have sworn to do ~ go in harms way if you are required to do so. Find another route to your education if personal safety is your primary concern. All of the branches, including the Coast Guard, can be very, very life threatening at times.