Expert: Loren Stevens - 1/4/2007

Question
Hi Loren I am 14 years old and a I am in the ninth grade. I plan on getting a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, and after that I would like to become a police officer. However, I do not plan to stay just a regular police officer forever. I would like to eventually join something like S.W.A.T., SRT, or TNT (Preferably SWAT/SRT). My question is what do people look for in recruits? I do not plan on going into the military, which I have heard can give you an upper hand. So what can I do to make myself stand out? What do recruiters look at for these kind of jobs? What can I do now to get myself prepared?

                               Thank you for your time,
                                            Nick

Answer
Hello Nick,
Well young man, I can offer you some ideas and opinions, but there is no exact template for what you seek.
The obvious...get decent grades, stay out of trouble, away from those who get in trouble, no drugs, or alcohol abuse.
If you know the agency that you want to ultimately work at, do some early recon work. Check out their human resourses dept., and see if there are any jobs available for people under 21 years old. Usually, agencies have positions like: courier, cadet, veh transport and maint. etc. On several levels, this would be good experience for you. You would be plugged into their system for seniority later, and their pension program. You'd learn the organization and subdivisions, who's-who, power dynamics in terms of stated power vs real power, or informal authority. Learning an agencie's regs and rules is a huge leap in terms of progress, and survival. You can see where this would be very advantageous. Plus, you are earning a paycheck.
Also, most agencies embrace an education incentive program of sorts, where tuition costs are reimbursed for classes that result in a grade of "C" or better. This amounts to a scholarship. It might take you a little longer to finish, but what's wrong with that?
You might also consider doing your 2 years of lower division undergraduate core classes at a Community College. The tuition is typically about 1/2 as it is for a 4 year school.
Just make sure all the classes you take TRANSFER to a 4 year program later. Don't take garbage classes like basket weaving etc. Those may boost your GPA, but plug into nothing.
I'd also recommend going for a double major, no minor. The difference is probably 9 credits or so. It amounts to having 2 degrees of equal strength....and beleive me, nobody will ever ask you what you Minored in.
SWAT and other specialized assignments are all well and good, but realistically, take up only a small percentage of a career. Typically, you won't even be able to put in for a specialized assigment, until you are off probation, and you've demonstrated to superiors that you can hack the basics...and beyond. If you don't distinguish yourself at the entry level of the agency, you are not apt to go anywhere special.
Know that only about 10% of applicants get hired, more wash out during the academy, more wash out during night problems, or field exercises, more wash out during the FTO (field training officer) phase etc. So, you have alot of hoops to traverse prior to anything else.
Focus and concentrate on the basics, and performance issues first. Be "results oriented".
After all that, and you are eligible to petition for a special assignment, you need to know what "KSA's" (knowledge-skills-abilities) are relevant to that assignment. To be an attractive candidate, in a very competitive area(s), you'll need to possess that which is desired. I've never known a SWAT commander, or any other specialized unit cmdr that didn't first want a candidate who excelled in the street as a beat cop, of basic field agent.
Some skills you can pick up on your own, or hobby oriented, marksmanship,fitness (espicially upper body,hands and endurance) repelling, knowledge in chemical munitions, various weaponrey, etc. First aid certs is always good, as are comm skills. Bi-lingual may be germain to your area, negotiator skills, electricity, etc etc.
Attend as many schools as you can, that apply to the goals you have..directly, and indirectly.
Well, I can go on and on, but I think this is plenty for you to think about for a while.
Good Luck,
loren