“I want to be on the forefront of combat and make a difference.”
That’s a big statement Xen. Combat involves putting your life at risk and taking life. You will change as a person.
The best soldiers are hardened professionals. If you are out for glory you will be out on your own in combat. It’s situational awareness and nobody wants to fight with a guy who wants a medal.
However, the military is the place for you to find that out. Join the Marines or Army and tell the you want to be a grunt and you will see combat in 6 to 9 mos.
Old guys like me have given advice to younger guys like you for years and nobody ever listens. I certainly didn’t.
After you get a taste of battle you may want to make a career of it or maybe not. The only thing I can tell you it’s not what you think. Elation doesn’t describe it, nor does terror. A combination of both…but more. At least for me.
As to being a policemen, I don’t think most cops get to see a lot of gunfights, even the SWAt teams. The NYC folks and other big cities may get a lot of activity but I don’t think our county SWAT team ever fired their weapon at a criminal that I can remember.
Consider the Uniform Division of the Secret Service if you are looking at federal positions. They provide the Counter Snipers and the Counter Assualt Team that support the president, but the hiring requirements aren’t as rigorous as they are for the Special Agents that work in the USSS. You have to be a regular UD guy for three years before you can apply to CAT or CS, but they are quality guys and very well trained. I have gotten to work with them in the last few days and they are a professional and lethal bunch of men and women.
First off, best of luck in anything that you choose to pursue. Secondly, with all due respect, you sound like someone that has no fucking idea what you want to do, which is okay because you’re only 19. Man, who hasn’t at one time wanted to “be on the forefront of combat and make a difference?”. Can you say Pat Tillman? Shit, I’ve been a “white collar” professional for practically my entire life and I still think sometimes about quitting and just “digging ditches”…Hell, I’ve even thought about just driving a truck…But then I wake the fuck up. You sound like an intelligent guy…use that brain, wrap up your degree and start making some nice coin.
Something where I can fucking shoot someone? (joking, sorta)[/quote]
I’m hoping this is just a joke. Having to shoot someone seems trivial until you actually have to do it. If you are ever in the unfortunate situation where you kill someone, you will find that it will change you forever in a way that you cannot comprehend. If you think you are ready to kill someone, go and shoot a dog first, see how you handle that.
There are those that are not affected by this, they are called psychopaths.
I’m not ragging on you, just letting you know that killing someone isn’t near as exciting as TV and video games make it out to be.
I find that most people who have to tell people how successful and wealthy they are:
aren’t
Sorry dude, this whole thread is not painting you in a great light. If I was 19 and could pull 2 grand a weekend, I could find alot of ways to help people besides foolish posts like this one.
Hey Xen, I used to be in the same mind-set as you thinking of just how cool it would be to just be able to kick some ass as a living but for how much fun it would be it will be even more- so boring, dangerous work and you’re going to have to put up with alot of waiting around and lots of training to deal with. I’m currently going through school for law/security and policing and we have ex-police officers as teachers 2 of which were ERT members.
If you’re seriously considering policing/security type work and if you have all of this extra money you might want to consider taking some private courses such as weapons handling and driving courses which will help you somewhat if you don’t have a military background. I think someone mentioned Blackwater in an earlier post and I know they provide some of these courses for citizens. You could even get a part-time security job because I know soem of the places (at least in Canada) allow you to take advanced courses such as dog handling, crisis management, driving which would help aswell. You should also think about at least talking to some military and police recruiters to get some ideas of what you would be doing.
Also like was said earlier there are lots of other exciting career paths in law enforcement that work along side swat teams such as plain clothes units, explozive ordinance disposal, k-9 all are exciting options aswell. basically I guess my point is just try to read/learn as much as you can about it before you make up your mind and consider everything you’ll be doing/will have to go through before you get there aswell.
on another note… have you seen that commercial for SOCOOM 3 with the song route 66 playing in the background…I know it’s for a video game but that is by far the most amazing commercial I have ever seen.
[quote]sasquatch wrote:
I find that most people who have to tell people how successful and wealthy they are:
aren’t
Sorry dude, this whole thread is not painting you in a great light. If I was 19 and could pull 2 grand a weekend, I could find alot of ways to help people besides foolish posts like this one.[/quote]
Yeah I’m gonna have to second what sasquatch is saying. Take it from me I have been there, the video games make it look cool but when its you and your team and your in some fuckin’ ditch for 12 hours it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Kicking around mountains for a week with only MRE’s to eat sucks. Not to sound critical but you seem to be a coddled school kid to me. If I could make 2 grand a weekend I would never go in to the military to make roughly a grand a month to start. Could you handle a DI or DSGT in your face screaming at you at the position of parade rest?
The Clandestine Service is looking for U.S. citizen candidates to fill Specialized Skills Officer positions. Specialized Skills Officers can expect to focus on intelligence operations for U.S. policymakers in hazardous and austere overseas environments.
Minimum requirements
include a bachelor’s degree and an excellent academic record, with a strong interest in international affairs and solid interpersonal and communications skills. Foreign travel, foreign language proficiency, and prior residency abroad, military experience, a background in Central Eurasian, East Asian and Middle Eastern languages, and degrees and experience in international economics and business, as well as in the physical sciences, are preferred. Maximum age for entrance into this program is 35.
[quote]BOSS wrote:
Here is the link for the CIA?s Black-ops program requirements.
That?s rite they list all there job openings on there official web site.
LOL. Are you kidding me? you ACTUALLY think they would ADVERTISE ‘black ops’?! Thank God we don’t have men like you in the service. Not only would the CIA ‘not have any idea what you are speaking about’ concerning the ‘black ops’ but they currently disavow the locations and activities of all NOC agents (the ones ‘off the books’). “Clandestine Services” just refers to the people in the field, ie. the info collectors who now a days work through proxies w/tax payers money. the CIA recruiters CAN NOT stress enough that only the most BASIC GPP is needed, and minimal to ‘no’ weapons skills (much to my chagrin). The closest most field ops agent get to ‘killin’ and combat are the intel officers who work @ prisons, ‘asking’ questions of suspected ‘insurgents’ and those who work in conjunction w/spec ops in the hinterlands of Afghanistan as coordinators of CIA intel (surveillance)and the military’s search and destroy team. The CIA is NOT the movies nor is it Alias. the other option are analysts and desk jobs in DC/Langley and other intel posts, know as the DI (directorate of intel). IMHO, for those hunting the black ops, do special operator work in any branch (CIA, NSA, FBI CT, special forces) and be the “best you can be.” They will find you. Otherwise, this is turning into a pissing contest.
[quote]kane101nod wrote:
BOSS wrote:
Here is the link for the CIA?s Black-ops program requirements.
That?s rite they list all there job openings on there official web site.
LOL. Are you kidding me? you ACTUALLY think they would ADVERTISE ‘black ops’?! Thank God we don’t have men like you in the service. Not only would the CIA ‘not have any idea what you are speaking about’ concerning the ‘black ops’ but they currently disavow the locations and activities of all NOC agents (the ones ‘off the books’). “Clandestine Services” just refers to the people in the field, ie. the info collectors who now a days work through proxies w/tax payers money. the CIA recruiters CAN NOT stress enough that only the most BASIC GPP is needed, and minimal to ‘no’ weapons skills (much to my chagrin). The closest most field ops agent get to ‘killin’ and combat are the intel officers who work @ prisons, ‘asking’ questions of suspected ‘insurgents’ and those who work in conjunction w/spec ops in the hinterlands of Afghanistan as coordinators of CIA intel (surveillance)and the military’s search and destroy team. The CIA is NOT the movies nor is it Alias. the other option are analysts and desk jobs in DC/Langley and other intel posts, know as the DI (directorate of intel). IMHO, for those hunting the black ops, do special operator work in any branch (CIA, NSA, FBI CT, special forces) and be the “best you can be.” They will find you. Otherwise, this is turning into a pissing contest.[/quote]
What you’re saying is that even though the CIA advertises a covert operations position(i.e. clandestine agent) it doesn’t actually exsist even though there is a link leading to the quals? Do you work for the federal govt?
[quote]snipeout wrote:
…What you’re saying is that even though the CIA advertises a covert operations position(i.e. clandestine agent) it doesn’t actually exsist even though there is a link leading to the quals? Do you work for the federal govt?[/quote]
I think what he is saying is that those are are most likely regular field agent jobs, not the “black ops” super secret ones.
No, not yet, although I have an interview with a State Dept. offical today and have met with three CIA ex-field agents/recruiters within the last 2 semesters. All I have written here is a result of my research and discussions with them.
-and yourself?
hhaha I too am actually looking into joining the FBI eventually but this is my plan so far. I do not/most likely will not have a military background but I have heard this is a major part. You must have an almost perfect background, and no drugs within 5 years of your application… including anabolic steroids. I am majoring in pre-law at the moment, with a minor in criminal justice. I work for CNE enterprises as a surveillance agent in one of the casinos here in Oklahoma. Once I get my bachelors I’m going to join the Marshal service. From there I want to move up and hopefully get into the OSBI (oklahoma state bureau of investigation) once I am there I will apply to the FBI whenever possible. I have a perfect record so far. Not even a speeding ticket, and I know for a fact that plays a huge part. You will have to pass a written and physical test. Then psych evaluations and and VERY TEDIOUS background check. They will talk to your family members and co-workers neighbors anyone you put down. My friend is about to join the OHP which does a lot of the same background checks and things such as that. He has passed the written and physical tests. I think he may already have taken the Psych eval to. He is just waiting for the background checks and such.
Oh… and if you are wanting to kill someone then this is the wrong thing for you. I think there is a real calling for this kind of work and it doesnt involve killing people by want. Join the military
Also, its not a bad idea to meet with someone such as your state senator and get a letter of recommendation or something to that effect. Also write as many letters and emails to anyone you think may be connected… meet as many of those people as possible and make a great impression.
As for SWAT it depends on the PD… if you are in a bigger city or whatnot. A co-worker of mine worked in Longmont CO as a Traffic officer, and at the PD SWAT was a volunteer type thing. He said he didnt remember if they got paid more or not but he figured they did. All you had to do was apply, pass the physical test, and then go through the training. They also had to do quite a bit more monthly firearm testing and other training. A bigger city might have a seperate more Elite department for their SWAT teams, but they didnt in Longmont.
[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
Im still in school as a business major (marketing and entreprenuership emphasis) with a minor in economics.
Great as it is…
If I were to join the police force, how long would it take me to make SWAT?
Or are there any FBI training programs that don’t involve joining the military?
How about CIA? NSA?
Something where I can fucking shoot someone? (joking, sorta)[/quote]
Join the French Foreign Legio. You get to do shit no one else wants to (African civil wars, pre-US Vietnam, etc.) if you are really hungry for action. Before you join any type of military force read the book “War Is a Force That Gives us Meaning” by Chris Hedges and you will be enlightened about some of the side effects.
[quote]kane101nod wrote:
No, not yet, although I have an interview with a State Dept. offical today and have met with three CIA ex-field agents/recruiters within the last 2 semesters. All I have written here is a result of my research and discussions with them.
-and yourself?[/quote]
6 years army spec ops, 1 year DOJ and since they couldn’t pay me enough I went local law enforcement.