How many of you are current/retired law enforcement officers? I'm considering enlistment in the National Guard as an MP and pursuing a civilian career as a trooper or city officer, don't know much about the process of getting into it ( Need a degree or does it matter?, age requirements, etc.) and I'd like to know what an average day on the job is. I've done some research online, but none of it is from the perspective of someone that has been through it. I'm hoping I can get into it by passing some sort of aptitude test because I'm intelligent, and physically fit, but my financial situation makes it a near impossibility to start school for at least a couple more years.
Look into the departments where you want to work- many will take you if you serve at least 2 years on Active Duty... an waive, in my case, the college requirement... However, where I am from, they also prefer NOT taking MP's as much as possible because MP's have already developed habits outside of what a civilian department wants, and so many find it easier to get established with military time in other combat arms MOS's- 11B, 11C, 13F, 13B, etc.
Same thing for age requirements, in my state, you must be 21 to own a handgun/carry, so you have to be 21 to be a patrolman. I know when I get out, I can walk on to my State Troopers department and have already made contacts there for when my time is up... Just remember, you'll have to do the bulk of the research because each department city-by-city even in the same state requires different.