Hey, I was considering enlisting in the Marine Corp Reserves, but had some questions and don't know anybody who can answer them for me.

1. If during my years of active duty enlistement, I interview to become a police officer...would the fact that I'd still be training and possibly being deployed make them shy away from hiring me?

2. Are there restrictions on deployment...as in maybe length or frequency differing from regular active duty Marines?

3. Does prior military service really help out when applying for law enforcement careers? Because I've heard different answers from different people, just wanted to clear things up if anyone could help out.

Thankyou for taking the time to read this, and I know above all, enlisting in the Marines should be because you want to be a Marine. I just had some questions that I have nobody to go to with. Thanks alot. -Chris

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If during my years of active duty enlistement, I interview to become a police officer...would the fact that I'd still be training and possibly being deployed make them shy away from hiring me?

It is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you for being in the military reserve. This is not to say it doesn't happen, but the occurrences are not as widespread as they once were. That said, I think the sheer benefit of being a Marine will help you more in getting a law enforcement job and will outweigh any negative connotation that being a reservist might have.

As far as deployment length, maybe someone with more curreent optempo knowledge than I have can answer it, but I would be surprised if deployement lengths depended on reserves vs. AD - I would think they would depend more on the unit and the mission, instead.

Military service WILL help you in getting a law enforcement job. It certainly helped me (and many others). But it's the military service, itself that helps - not necessarily being an MP or other LE-type in the military (I was a grunt). If you still want to be an MP, it's great experience; but you don't have to in order for your service to be beneficial to LE. As long as you service is honorable, which means doing a good job at whatever MOS you happen to have.

Now, don't expect military service to be the golden ticket to automatically getting hired, like a lot of people think of it as. It's just one part of the application package that is 'you.' Keeping your nose clean, staying fit, adding in a college degree and some language skills - those things will also weigh importantly in the hiring process.

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Originally posted by 4517965:
1. If during my years of active duty enlistement, I interview to become a police officer...would the fact that I'd still be training and possibly being deployed make them shy away from hiring me?

2. Are there restrictions on deployment...as in maybe length or frequency differing from regular active duty Marines?

3. Does prior military service really help out when applying for law enforcement careers? Because I've heard different answers from different people, just wanted to clear things up if anyone could help out.

1. Discriminating against or firing Guard/Reservists because of their military obligations is illegal but occasionally it still happens. Most likely it won't be an issue. There are a LOT of reserve Marines/corpsmen who are cops, firefighters, EMT's, etc.

2. Apparently the reserve is going to achieve the 1:5 deploy/dwell ratio soon. Meaning that units will spend 5 years home for every year deployed. Reserve units deploy for a full year so that you can get in the needed predeployment training and workups, but you spend the same amount of time actually in theater that an active duty unit would. If you wish to deploy more often, there are always individual augment slots available.

3. Military service isn't a free ticket to law enforcement but it does help a lot. In many states you can get extra points on the Civil Service exam for law enforcement jobs. Having somebody who has already been well trained in leadership, discipline, initiative, and being responsible is also appealing to those who would be making the selection. Just keep in mind you're far from the only person with military service trying to get those LE jobs, so it's a significant boost to you but not necessarily a decisive one.