Hey guys. I am thinking of enlisting in the AF. soon its something ive always wanted to do and i think its going to help me get a job as a Police officer when i get out. also my grandfather was a major in the AF. i was just wondering. i know the Army has MP's what is the difference if at all between MP's and SF? do the train to do difference things.??
basically the same thing except mps for the most part does not do abd (air base defense), but you have SF and SP in the airforce just not that many SP locations left, us SPs only do LE work
Originally posted by 20976938: basically the same thing except mps for the most part does not do abd (air base defense), but you have SF and SP in the airforce just not that many SP locations left, us SPs only do LE work
Mr. 20976938 appears to have fallen through a time warp and hit his head on the way down.
A quick breakdown/comparison between the two is that -
Army MPs have three basic functions:
1) Post law enforcement duties
2) Combat support duties = rear area defense and quick response as well convoy defense/support
3) Enemy prisoner of war handling and guarding
Security Forces also has three basic functions:
1) Asset protection = guard aircraft, missiles, and other priority resources
2) Combat support = base defense
3) Law enforcement
Law enforcement is increasingly the red-headed stepchild of this trio. Many LE functions are being contracted out so active duty personnel can either deploy and perform the base defense functions or remain on station and concentrate on asset protection.
It is possible to perform L.E. duties in Security Forces, but you have to be a) senior/experienced, b) good, c) a bit lucky
You may want to do some digging around the hundred or so threads in this forum that deal with what Security Forces does and does not do. Just be warned, some of the discussions are not pretty.
Originally posted by kevin86freeman: Well I dont know as much as they seasoned men I do know that Mp's are unable to get patrol unless they are E4 and above. I am out here at Elmo and we are going to a joint base with the army base next door we sometimes meet up at the gate and talk for a bit. But anyways on are side of base airman are givin a chance to get some LE time every once in awhile which i like cause it gets me out of the box. well i hope i helped somewhat in your decision.
I didn't think it was possible for a replier to out-do the poster. I'd love to have a gander at one of your 1168's!
I am really hoping to get orders back to Elmendorf to finish out my career...looks like I would have quite a time there, fixing statements, teaching remedial English...
Originally posted by kevin86freeman: Well I dont know as much as they seasoned men I do know that Mp's are unable to get patrol unless they are E4 and above. I am out here at Elmo and we are going to a joint base with the army base next door we sometimes meet up at the gate and talk for a bit. But anyways on are side of base airman are givin a chance to get some LE time every once in awhile which i like cause it gets me out of the box. well i hope i helped somewhat in your decision.
I was an active duty MP for 5 years.. I spent all 5 on L&O patrol duties. So whoever told you that was on crack.
The only SF's I had contact with (On Kadena AFB) were that way, they had the lower enlisted on the desk doing RTO duties, while the NCO's did the patrol work. But then again I had seen lower enlisted patrolmen in the AF there too.
If your ultimate goal is starting a civillian LE career I would advise that you attend college full time and get your four year degree instead of doing AF SF.
^ Ditto, not only does your CCAF not count toward anything but electives-ie: gym class-but you will have close to zero opportunity to get any LEO experience dependent on where you get assigned. AFSF is heading toward pure ABD, and eventually we'll be doing 12 month rotations to support that mission, so say goodbye to any chance of trying to work with you local police agency on your downtime...
Really now? And when do you project that to start?
quote:
and eventually we'll be doing 12 month rotations to support that mission
This also earns a really now. Not to say there aren't folks on 365s, but you think we'll be pushing out all ~4k deployed for a year? Where did you get that from?
quote:
you will have close to zero opportunity to get any LEO experience dependent on where you get assigned
Maybe yes, maybe no. But here's what I know...no department gives a crap how you did it in your last department...you need to it the way they do it in their department. At the end of the day what any (underline any) ex military person brings to a PD is some degree of maturity, the ability to show up to work on time, follow instructions and in most cases a clean drug and criminal record.
Originally posted by chairforce21: ^ Ditto, not only does your CCAF not count toward anything but electives-ie: gym class-but you will have close to zero opportunity to get any LEO experience dependent on where you get assigned. AFSF is heading toward pure ABD, and eventually we'll be doing 12 month rotations to support that mission, so say goodbye to any chance of trying to work with you local police agency on your downtime...
The only thing better than bad information, is tremendously bad information.
Originally posted by Vorpal: If your ultimate goal is starting a civillian LE career I would advise that you attend college full time and get your four year degree instead of doing AF SF.
If it wasn't for the 5 veterans points awarded on my police officer exam I would never had made it and the competition hasn't let up after all these years.
Join the military and get your degree while you are in. I got out with almost 8 years in, and a B.S. degree; getting on with a civilian LE agency was MUCH easier with both of those under my belt.
HT
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a Veteran.
