Expert: Jim Pastore - 12/27/2008

Question
i was wondering if you can help me out. i'm a junior right now in high school and my parents expect alot from me as every other parents do. its not suprising, but very stressful. and since i was young, i always loved cops. never seen them as the bad guys as everyone says, because tehy get busted for something they did wrong and i admire the work of a police officer. so my goal or you can say plan is to graduate from high school and option 1 go to college (but i'm not that great of a student. pretty lazy and you know the type, but not disrespectful or anything, just not motivated enough for the whole school policy of teaching) with a criminal justice, criminology, forensic science. or option 2 go to the army, sign up for a contract as an airborne ranger and get a degree in the list i said above while serving and after i get out, i want to apply for a job at the F.B.I. their requirements are pretty strict, and you need a degree obviously and an experience in many other things, but i want to go into military. or option 3 try out for the navy seals BUDS program. (i know it maybe impossible but i mean if you think you can do it then you can do it right?) so do you think any of these are any great from your point of view? or is this just a kids dream ? i just want to hear the truth of what you think and maybe even push me to the right direction and give me some advices. thank you for your time reading this. i appreciate it.

Answer
Brian,

   Going into the service is a great plan. Once you get out with an honorable discharge and apply for a civil service job, you will get extra points on the entrance exam. This can put you ahead of the pact to get hired. Also while in the service you can get your college degree for free. Most Departments and of course the FBI requires a degree to get hired. The Navy seals is a tough program. If it is something you would like to do then go for it. My only concern would be finding the time to get through college while being a seal. If your looking for a degree and then to get out to go to a Police Department of the FBI then I would go into the service, serve my time, keep your nose clean then get your discharge.

   However if you plan on making the Navy a career then you would still be young enough when you get out after 20 years to get hired on a Police department. Then you will be guaranteed a pension for the rest of your life and health care. Believe it or not time goes pretty fast. When I got out of the Navy at 19 years old I use to thing 35 was old. But 35 came and went real fast. I got injured early after 23 years on the Department and now have a pension for life. If I had not had my shit together at such a young age I wouldn't have what I have today.

   Life is short so look ahead and have a plan. You will be glad you did in the future. Good Luck, and let me know if I can be of more help.

Jim