Expert: Jim Pastore - 10/5/2006

Question
    hi Mr.Pastore's i am a senior at new britain high school in CT...... in my high school im the type of person thats always in school and im always on the right track. i have great grades and lets just say im a pertty squard away kid. im enrolled in a program thats called JROTC.... ive been in that programe for 4 years and lets just say that bc of that im the one who makes the calls and teaches classes and u know helps out all the other kids in the programe in getting up top with me. i love helping kids and showing them how to get on the right path like myself..... every day that goes by pple are always asking me danny do u want to join the military. and well lets just say that ive really thought about it.. and its just that i dont want to leave my family and head out there in the war... i know that i could hanndle it and that i can make the right choice and i really do want to support my country soo i would have noo problem. but yea if i can recall all my life ive wanted to bc a swat team memeber. i love everything about it. it is so my goal in life. i know that its gonna take me alot of hard work and training but i dont mind all that bc i knw that im ready and that thats what i want to do. soo my question to u is what i should do......i mean ive asked soo many pple and they all tell me that danny your in jrotc go to the military. and well i know that i can do that and then become and officer wen im done with active duty then i can see if theres an opening 4 the swat team then apply for it. but i actually thought about going to college and well u know getting my bachlers then doing police acadamy and then letting everything play in oder....im just really confused and i need ur help....i want to get on the swat team soo bad. What would u do if u lkived my life and where in my shoes?



thank you so much and srry about the lil slang computer talk i used u knw like shorting words and well not fixing my grammer.  

Answer
Daniel,

   First it I were you I would most definitely go to college. If you can't afford to get in then the military may be a way to get college paid for. But a degree will help a lot to get you on a Police Dept. The next thing is just because you get on as a Police officer does not mean you will get into SWAT. You have to out your time in first on the streets then apply. You need to be both physically and mentally fit to be picked for SWAT. I hope this helped somewhat. Don't hesitate to ask any more questions.

Jim Pastore