Hello all,
I have been a cop for three years and am now considering a career change. For as long as I can remember I have longed to join the military. In fact while I was in college I planned to join after graduation however I married and my wife wasnt thrilled about the possibility of life in the military. Several years later I still feel an immense desire to join in some capacity and serve in the armed forces. I have examined everything from the Army National Guard to the Coast Guard however research can provide only so much information. I would like to continue with a Law Enforcement type job with an emphasis placed on Combat/Tactical training. I have looked at Units such as the Coast Guard MSST or Port Security, Marine Corps Security Forces, etc. Additionally, I have considered possibly joining the Army National Guard as an Officer and hopefully am assigned to the Infantry or Military police. The Coast Guard is extremely intriguing since they place an emphasis on law enforcement and providing security for the Nation's coasts and ports. Problem is with little information about the MSST and Port Security on the internet I am not sure what it would take to join and if the units are legitimately tactically sound. Additionally, I dont want to join an organization like the Coast Guard and not get a law enforcement related job, then spend 6 months on a boat each year performing a job I hate. Would my law enforcement background, SWAT experience and a Bachelors degree guarrantee me a job in law enforcement? I really dont want to sound like such a juvenile and I am not asking anyone to tell me what I should do, but I have no military experience and would like some input from those that have served. Thanks in advance for the input.

I dont know much about MSST but Port Security is a reserve only job. With your LE experience they won't "guarantee" you a job in LE. But you pick a rate that does a lot of it like Boatswain mate or Machinery technician and you will end up doing it sometime. My experience is only on 87' patrol boats and station so I can't speak for Endurance cutters, but the stations do LE regualrly, and when we get underway on the 87' we aim to do as many LE boardings we can. We get underway about 1 every 3 weeks for a week, sometimes more, never less.

When inport no LE, other than LE training for the junior guys. With your LE experience I don't see why your command wouldn't send you to the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy to be a boarding officer. I am only a BM3 (E4 and still on the bottom of the totum pole, HA) and within 1 month of my arrival at the unit I was off to the MLEA for school to be a BO.

As for the LE...we sometimes get nothing on a patrol other than safety violations and sometimes we make an arrest or turn over someone for arrest. It can get boring, but BMs are very versitile and do alot in the Coast Guard.

Hope this helps a bit in your decision.

BM3

Good question:
Normally the role is reversed. USCG law enforcement members head off to pursue a career in civilian agencies. That said, I'm sure your doing your research on whats available. So here is my train of thought.
1. Normally USCG Law Enforcement is a collateral duty. Meaning it's not a full time comittment. IE: If your a Boatswains Mate, or Machinery Technician you have to work on your specialty, plus your qualifications.
2. You might go to a unit that has no Law Enforcement. IE: Marine Safety, Aids to Navigation, maybe work in a barracks.
You could go to a MSST.
Good job. I know what entails, but I'm not breaking opsec.
Taclet
Primary duty is Law Enforcement. Normally for 3 years. (Spent 9 years with Taclet North, and South).
MSRT-
Not even going there (again it's a OPSEC issue).
Civilian LEO, and USCG LE are two entirely different animals. Your training can help, but can also hinder. One is communications, two is Use of force, command and control. A lot of units, especially specializing in Law Enforcement place alot of emphasis on your verbalization, and tactics. Meaning the member is responible not just for knowing the basics of laws, and technical pubs, but are required to be able to verbalize it. It sounds dumb and pointless, however with the broad scope of enforcement options it saves your butt in the long run.
I recommend talking to a recruiter. Are you interested in losing money? I don't know where your at, but your NOT going to get overtime. Is your wife ok with the thought of moving every couple of years?
If you have a bachelor's degree, and prior work expierence, I'd recommend putting in a package for OCS. Again contact a recruiter.
Do you want to go Active or Reserves? Are you willing to be called up for activation at a moments notice to go anywhere in the world for an uspecified amount of time? These are questions to ask yourself?
If your interested in FLEO position, have you looked into NCIS, CID, or OIS?
Good Luck