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Law Enforcement and Security Specialists

The military services have their own law enforcement and police forces. These specialists investigate crimes committed on military property or that involve military personnel. Military police do many of the same things as civilian officers, control traffic, prevent crime, and respond to emergencies. They also guard military bases and inmates in military correctional facilities.

Job Details:

What They Do:

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

Investigate criminal activities and activities related to espionage, treason, and terrorism
Interview witnesses and arrest suspects
Guard correctional facilities and other military installations
Patrol areas on foot, by car, or by boat
Perform fire and riot control duties

Work Environment:

Law enforcement and security specialists in the military work both indoors and outdoors depending on their assignment. They may work outdoors while conducting investigations or patrolling facilities.

Training Provided:

Job training consists of 5 to 12 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:

Civil and military laws
Investigation and evidence collection procedures and techniques
Prisoner control and discipline
Use of firearms and hand-to-hand defense techniques
Traffic and crowd control procedures

Opportunities:

The military has about 30,000 law enforcement and security specialists. Each year, the services need new specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, they work under the direction of more experienced specialists. In time, they may supervise and train new workers or lead investigations. Eventually, they may become chiefs of detectives, chiefs of police, or superintendents of correctional facilities.

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