I am going up to MEPS on monday to take my ASVAB and physical, and at first I was going to go in as a BM rate but I was looking at Port Security Specialist and was highly interested. It says on a lot of sites that law enforcement and/or prior military experience is valuable; however, it does not say it is required. I know that it is a deployable unit which is fine with me, but do I have to have law enforcement experience in order to obtain this specific rate? I talked to my recruiter and she said that I have to interview down in Yorktown with some of PS guys in order to get this rate. Are they looking for cops who already have a few years under their belt? I am applying to local law enforcement and this rate sounds awesome to me, but what am I really going to expect? What other qualifications do I need (at MEPS, before and after MEPS, would I have to wait for PS "A" school for a good 6 months and be a nonrate in the meantime?) Would really appreciate for the feedback! Cannot wait to join!
I am assuming you are entering the reserves, considering PS is an all reserve rate...
With that said, to the best of my knowledge, there are no prior qualifications required for starting out in any rate in the Guard with the exception of those applying for the Direct Petty Officer program. However, I do know that any prior military, combat, or LE training is considered a plus when going PS, but not required.
Within your post you state that you "know it is a deployable unit..." Not all PS's will get stationed at PSU's, which is readily deployable...check out the link below for some better info.
But be advised, the PS rating has and is changing significantly over the next few years. Even moreso for those (and all other personnel for that matter) stationed within a PSU due to the inception of DOG (Deployable Operations Group). My husband has been a PS for about a decade now, and stationed at a PSU for around the last 4 years and his job is very much different than what it used to be. Get all the info you can. If it's any consolation though, most all PS's I know are cops on the outside.
The CG has a reserve program called "REBI", where it takes a persons civilian career, and laterals it into a military career. For instance, a police officer can go through this program, and once indoctrinated through the course at Cape May's training site (which I think is only 2-weeks long) comes into the reserves as a PS3/E-4. Prior military also fit under this program. If you choose to go through boot camp, tell your recruiter you want a guaranteed PS "A" school (or any other rating), that way advancement to E-4 is quicker.
If you choose to go through boot camp, tell your recruiter you want a guaranteed PS "A" school (or any other rating), that way advancement to E-4 is quicker.
Actually, it is near imposible to go reserves w/o this. The CGR has nearly zero 'non-rate' billets and almost 100% of the reserves are recruited to a specific rated billet.
And to add to what the MC said, the PS rating will be decommissioned (i.e. "going away") within the next two years.
A Port Security Unit does not just consist of just PSs. BMs, MKs, GMs, HSs, FSs, SKs, DCs, EMs and other enlisted ratings make up a PSU. The Maritime Enforcement (ME) will be coming online within the next two years. A regular full-time LE rating the CG/CGR has not had before.
