Law Enforcement and Security Specialists

Background

The military services have their own law enforcement and police forces. Military police do many of the same things as civilian officers, control traffic, prevent crime, and respond to emergencies. They also guard military bases and inmates in military correctional facilities. Law enforcement and security specialists investigate crimes committed on military property or that involve military personnel.

What They Do

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

Guard correctional facilities and other military installations
Interview witnesses and arrest suspects
Investigate criminal activities and activities related to espionage, treason, and terrorism
Patrol areas on foot, by car, or by boat
Perform fire and riot control duties

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is necessary to enter some specialties in this area. Some specialties have minimum age and height requirements.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

Ability to remain calm under pressure
Interest in law enforcement and crime prevention
Willingness to perform potentially dangerous work

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

Government
Speech

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military work both indoors and outdoors depending on their assignment. They may work outdoors while conducting investigations or patrolling facilities.

Services offering this career:

Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of five to 12 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

Civil and military laws
Investigation and evidence collection procedures and techniques
Prisoner control and discipline
Traffic and crowd control procedures
Use of firearms and hand-to-hand defense techniques

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian law enforcement and security specialists work for state, county, or city law enforcement agencies. They may also work in prisons, intelligence agencies, and private security companies. They perform similar duties to those performed in the military. They may be called police officers, detectives, private investigators, undercover agents, correction officers, or security guards.

Related Civilian Careers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 30,000 law enforcement and security specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, they work under the direction of more experienced specialists. In time, they may supervise and train new workers or lead investigations. Eventually, they may become chiefs of detectives, chiefs of police, or superintendents of correctional facilities.