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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DC graduated from a public university in 2023. They had already run the hiring gauntlet with several law enforcement entities during their senior year and went right into one of their academies. The salary was +/- $65,000 in the academy. They started getting paychecks three weeks prior to their academy report date. After the six month academy they did field training for months before they were released to work independently. During the first year they received two raises that increased their salary about $9,000. Last year they started earning overtime and that has dramatically increased their total compensation. They will receive at least one 5% raise per year. It amazes me that young adults struggling to find work aren't looking more seriously at law enforcement.[/quote]

My DS is interested in law enforcement, and is in his junior year.  Can you share a bit more about which ones your DC looked into, where they ended up, major, that kind of thing?[/quote]

I'm not going to out my DC but I can give you the type of information you might find helpful.

Does your son have a work history of any kind? Does he volunteer? Is he a member of any student organizations on campus? Things like that obviously help round out an application.

Make sure he's keeping his physical fitness up. As part of the pre-academy hiring process he will be required to run through various fitness assessments.

Most of the entities our child applied to had several requirements that necessitated multiple trips from school to the various headquarters. There were panel interviews, physicals, polygraphs, eye exams, psych exams and drug tests for each place. That will make senior year hectic if your son hopes to enter the academy during the summer or fall after graduation.

There are federal, state, county and local entities to consider. Our child's first choice was the FBI but the wait between graduation and the actual application process was far too long. They moved on to the more local options.

As for organizations to target, I wouldn't necessarily discriminate. It depends on your location and where he wants to settle in after college. Almost every organization has a recruiting page on their website that details salary ranges and benefits. Keep in mind that in many organizations a college degree means a higher starting salary than the one posted on the recruiting website. Foreign language proficiency also equates to a bump in salary. Sometimes the highest paying job isn't the best option in terms of fit and location. In and around the DMV the pay should be decent because of the COL. Hiring bonuses can be large. Relocation bonuses might be possible as well. Does your son want a take home police vehicle? Is the organization large enough that it staffs specialty units that he can train towards? There are a lot of things to consider.

Recruits will attend a law enforcement training academy. It usually lasts between five and seven months. Some are residential Sunday night through Friday and others allow recruits to go home every night. That might be a factor for your son to consider. I think every organization pays the recruits while they attend the academy. Some offer a slightly reduced academy salary but many pay the full salary for those months.

Majors are not a deal breaker. What they want is someone that can think on their feet and is willing to learn. They will teach you what you need to know in the academy. After the academy your specific organization will then train you further on how they operate. There is a steep learning curve from the time you enter the academy until you hit the streets independently.

Most recruits in the NoVa area go to the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy or the Farifax County Criminal Justice Academy. The D.C. Metropolitan Police have their own academy. The Virginia State Police Academy is based out of Chesterfield. People think law enforcement officers don't get training, but they'd be hard pressed to get through the academies. There is a lot of studying at night. There are rankings on boards for everyone to see. It's the fire hose approach to learning for recruits from day one. There is no comfort zone when you walk through the academy door.

If your son goes this route I wish him the best. You'll be surprised by the benefits and the amount of money he makes 2-3 years out of the academy.[/quote]

This is so stupid.  My DS graduated from 292nd session of the FBI's Basic Field Training Course (BFTC), and he attended a private college.  Please find the name.[/quote]

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