Expert: Jason Grabill - 4/16/2006

Question
Sergeant Jason S. Grabill:
Thanks for the quick response.  So exactly what is "military intelligence" and what does the job entail? You think joining the military is less dangerous than as a law enforcement officer? I was thinking the exact opposite.  If I were to apply for a job with the secret service with only my accounting degree and no law enforcement background do you think i'd be able to get a position? also, would my training somehow be inferior to the rest of the agents who have gone through military and police training? my main thing is getting into the service or marshalls alive.  I don't want to die before I reach that point in my career.  THANKS!

Answer
Ryan:

   Your chances of dying in military service are greatly overblown by the media.  Look up how many people have served in Iraq, as well as in the military as a whole, and then look at the casualty rates year by year.   THEN compare that to the United States highway deaths LAST YEAR alone.  You stand a far greater chance of being killed in a car crash than you do dying in Iraq.  Do your own investigating and find out for sure.

  Compare those numbers with the number of LEO deaths in America last year, including accidents.  Then compare them to the total Law Enforcement population.  You have about as much chance of being killed in the military as you do on the Police dept.  It's inherently dangerous work.  

 As far as competing with "just" the accounting degree, yes, simply put, people with military backgrounds (esp those with prior combat experience) will have a better chance of getting selected than you will.  They will have veterans preference, for one, and will have proven themselves as leaders, for two.   

Best Regards,