Is Transitioning to a Police Job Natural for Army Veterans? It seems as though transitioning to a police force from military duty should be rather natural. Many veterans work on local and federal police forces because it’s within their comfort level. However, this has caused other veterans to resent being typecast.
Many military veterans find law enforcement to be a natural fit. They understand how the brain of a police officer works and fit in rather quickly as they transition out of military life.
However, other service members believe the police force is the least suitable choice for veterans. They believe this because many are still working through emotional issues from deployments.
Many also believe veterans choose law enforcement because it’s one of the most viable options when the job market is challenging.
Challenges Faced by Army Veterans
No matter the job a military veteran chooses, they face challenges with transitioning out of military life. Many of these challenges are not faced by civilians. Some veterans don’t understand how to provide to potential employers that they have the skills to work in the civilian job market. Many come back with PSTD and have issues they need to work through. Others may have suffered an injury and may wonder if that injury will keep them from landing a job.
Taking the skills learned in the Army to a civilian agency may seem like an appealing way to go. This does go both ways as many law enforcement agents seek veterans because of the skills they have. They like the discipline, training and skills they bring to the table and believe the transition from military to civilian law enforcement is pretty easy.
While it makes pretty good sense for a military veteran to go into law enforcement, many use this as their backup plan. If they cannot find a job in another industry, law enforcement provides a pretty easy transition into civilian life.