Posted: 4/13/2012 2:15:27 PM EDT
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I may be back home in FL!
My enlistment is up in April of next year, and I've decided I'm not going to reenlist(for lots of reasons that I wont go into here, I understand the benefits and pay are a very big reason to stay in in this economy, but I've made my decision, if you that interested in the why's you can PM me.) I took the first step a few days ago in hopefully getting a job with FWC when I move back home. Its something Ive always been interested in, and Law Enforcement kind of runs in my family(2 career LEO's in the family, 1 retired) So if all goes well I'll be getting out of the USCG and going to the academy as soon as I get moved back. With that said(and I know I started a thread already asking for help, but its archived now), any FWC guys on the board that would be available to answer a few questions?  
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But a serious GOOD LUCK to you and thanks for your service.
Good luck!
That was always my dream job, I scored a 93 on the aptitude civil service test back in the 70's Unfortunatally by the time I was 18, my driving record precluded me from getting any Law enforcement jobs. Wonder if they'd hire me now after 20 years without a ticket?
Hope you get accepted, we need solid people there. |
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I may be in the same boat... my term is up this September but I have no idea whether the Navy will keep me or not (Perform to Serve, Prepare to Separate, whatever you want to call the Navy's drawdown plan).
I would willingly give up $12,000 a year just to go into some form of law enforcement. I could have swore FWC required some form of college but I looked over their requirements and saw nothing. Part of me wants to just say screw it and get out regardless of what my PTS results come back looking like... I've always wanted to go into law enforcement and figured the military would be a good stepping stone to push off from. Personally, I feel like it's just time for a change of pace. |
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I'm at 6 years right now, this September will make 7. I don't know how the Air Force does things, but in the Navy we have two types of duty: sea, and shore. Shore duty doesn't deploy. In Aviation we have two types of maintenance: operational; being attached to a squadron and working a flight schedule, and intermediate; working on the finer parts of the aircraft like engines, gearboxes, etc. Being on O-level sea duty for 7 years straight can be a real drag... and I fear if I go shore duty, because of my particular job, I'll get O-level shore duty - which is the same job I do now but I won't go on deployments or detachments.
I like aviation, it's good honest work and can be fun at times, but the place I'm at... it's the best at micromanaging it's people to the point where even our inspectors are just workers, and what's worse is if I go O-level shore duty, the only place local for that is 10x worse than where I'm at now for that sort of stuff. And that's coming from people who have transferred from X to Y squadrons. I had an old Chief, a Senior Master Sergeant for you AF types, who told me when the Navy stopped being fun it's time to seriously reconsider where you're headed - and lately I've been doing a lot of that. I truly hope the grass is greener on the other side, I don't care if I have to pull 12-14 hour shifts for the first 5 years on nights and work most holidays. I'm no stranger to awkward shifts or difficult work, and I want a career that's going to be anything but monotonous, where helo aviation is always the same stuff, day after day after day. 
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Quoted:
I don't care if I have to pull 12-14 hour shifts for the first 5 years on nights and work most holidays. I'm no stranger to awkward shifts or difficult work, Unlike the military, you will get paid for the time you work or you will comp it off (varies agency to agency and some don't allow OT). My agency PAYS you for EVERY HOUR worked... we don't get screwed with comp time, etc. In addition, you should/will get OT for extra time worked if not comp'ed off. Holidays... that HOLIDAY DOUBLE...  . In fact, I'm working OT tonight at a local RELAY FOR LIFE function... 15 hours worth.
Furthermore... day shift is for suckers... day shift blows donkey balls IMO. Nights is where it's at for me. Little hard on the family life, true, but days is full of nit-noid bull shit calls and the brass is out watching everything. |
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The ride along I did with Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was done on the officer's night shift. He was very professional, didn't bullshit me about the not-so-glamorous parts of the job, and offered lots of personal opinions on things that outsiders wouldn't ever hear about. I only did 6 hours with him because I had to go to work the next day, but I had so much fun it didn't even feel like it was 6 hours.
This reminds me, I need to try to get a ride along with FHP one of these days - and soon.... [edited for grammer]
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FWC has an academy about once a year at the Pat Thomas training center. I don't know what they are doing now with the budget cuts the state is doing. I started the hiring process a few years ago but it was a 10,000 dollar cut in pay.I want to say it starting pay was 34,000.I have a few friends that are FWC they love it.Their web site had alot of information or call their region office they have a recruiter/HR person. |
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OP, Best of luck to you! I have no experience with FWC so all I can do is offer my encouragement. Quoted: Part of me wants to just say screw it and get out regardless of what my PTS results come back looking like... I've always wanted to go into law enforcement and figured the military would be a good stepping stone to push off from. Personally, I feel like it's just time for a change of pace. I never even submitted a PTS, that way I made sure that even if I got cold feet at the end I wouldn't be able to puss out on my decision to separate Joining the USN was probably the best decision I ever made. Getting out after 5 was probably the 2nd best. I went reserves, so I didn't burn my bridges completely. I'll be drilling @ the WPB NOSC if they ever get my paperwork together. |