anyone here in law enforcement?

[pdennis93]

im thinking about a career change, and my second choice was always to become a cop... but i always thought certain physical things would prevent me from doing this, one of which was i was pretty over weight (5'11-6'0 and about 225lbs) but now im almost down to 180, and in better shape than ive been in my life..... the only drawback still is my eyesight... its about 20/25 or 20/30 corrected and..........20/800 uncorrected (um yeah thats BAD)

has anyone here ever gone through the police acadamy?

my other off the wall thought was to go into the military and become an IT specialist for uncle sam, but i really dont know if i want to go through bootcamp and then have someone own my life...

decisions decisions

[onequiksc]

Pete, you do realize the physical rquirements associated with either of those choices is much more than you've done in any previous endeavor, right? I don't think you'd be capable given what you've already told us.

I sure do sympathize with your situation, but unlike a job you get on your own, once you're in the service and it gets too tough for you, you can't just quit.

For a change, I'm the one making excuses for you, huh...life is strange.

I see you at a desk personally, 160 lbs or 225. I wish I knew where you could go to find that desk. Laters

[doodaa]

If you've got an IT background already the military will be a step backwards... I don't care what the recruiters tell you contractors do the real work in most cases. If you want to play in the mud carrying a rifle or work on jet engines in the middle of an ocean it might be a good choice though. Boot camp *will* be a physical ordeal (as well as a mental one) and there's an annual test of that fitness level.

[pdennis93]

ok scratch the military part off then, cause i do have an IT degree already... i guess im just going through my first mid life crisis (the one that hits you right around the time you turn 25)

[doodaa]

Probably not an issue - seems like 26 is as "old" as they'll take you without prior service. The degree *might* get you into the officer ranks (management) but you'd still have to do the rest.

[onequiksc]

Pete, this situation you're pondering sort of reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where George is looking for work and thinking about what he'd like to do, and the convo goes something to this effect;

George,"" I could be one of them sports announcers, I like sports...they get paid well"

Jerry: "Yeahhhhh....ummm......problem is, they usually give those jobs to people who actually have a background and education in broadcasting"

George; "Well.....that's .....really not fair"

:)

[pdennis93]

yeah i know....im just trying to figure out what to do, i know one thing i will NOT do, and that is go back to that hellhole that is known as TAG. as much as it pains me to say this, i would probably move out of florida before going back there.. even if i could go back which i probably cant.

[plev72]

Army wouldn't be bad, I got out (enlisted) in November 2002 and was a 74b (which is information systems) didn't have the GPA to go officer. I went in at 25. Assuming they would give you a waiver for your eyes, I believe the path to being an officer is to enlist with a contract saying that upon successful completion of basic training they will send you to OCS. I really enjoyed basic ... and at 5'11 185ish you shouldn't have any problem with the physical requirements. Being older they will likely give you a bit more responsibility and a bit less crap.

Army was good to me, plan on spending time in Korea or Iraq though...

[Birdman93]

You could always move to Iowa-Rockwell Collins is always looking for people.

Wife's been there 5 years-pulls down 27K a year as an accounting coordinator, and only has an associate degree