If you're interested in a career in law enforcement and want to serve your country, then being a Navy police officer may be the perfect job for you. Navy police officers are responsible for maintaining law and order on naval bases. These officers perform duties similar to civilian police officers but also have additional responsibilities, such as safeguarding military weapons and equipment.
To become a Navy police officer, you must first enlist in the Navy armed services, also known as the U.S. Navy, and go through boot camp. Boot camp is a grueling eight to 10 weeks of military training designed to test applicants and weed out individuals who may not be a good fit for military service.
Job Description
Navy police officers have a wide range of duties and responsibilities. They are responsible for patrolling Navy bases, investigating crimes and responding to emergencies. They also provide security for Navy personnel, property and equipment. Navy police officers may be called upon to escort navy dignitaries or provide security for Navy ships and aircraft.
In addition to their law enforcement duties, Navy police officers perform many administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and preparing reports. Military police have many of the same responsibilities as civilian police officers but are contracted by the armed forces. They're tasked with keeping the peace as well as enforcing anti-terrorism protocols.
Education Requirements
There are no formal requirements to join the Navy police force. Typically, Navy recruits have completed high school and are at least 18 years of age. Those interested in becoming part of the armed forces go through a similar process regardless of which branch they're interested in joining. To start, contact the recruiter in your local area for the branch of service you're looking to join.
To become a Navy police officer, you must first join the Navy. According to USA.gov, you will be sent to a military entrance processing station. From there, you'll enter boot camp and be on your way to joining the military.
Industry
The U.S. military is the great protector of our country. With nearly 500 military bases in the country, the military employs over 1 million service members. When joining the armed forces in active duty, you're enlisting to help the country and your fellow Americans.
If you're interested in becoming a Navy police officer, you'll be stationed at "A" school in San Antonio, Texas. You'll enter a nine-week course to receive technical training. Your official job title may eventually be Master-at-Arms, typically a petty officer, as described by America's Navy. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says there is a group of 13,551 active protective personnel in the Navy. Comparatively, the Air Force has over 36,000 protective personnel employed.
Years of Experience
It takes years of experience to rise through the ranks in the military police industry. When a recruit first joins active duty, they're ranked as an ensign, which typically implies they're still in a training process of some sort. This applies for the first two years. After ensign, you'll move to lieutenant commander. Becoming a naval police officer takes many years of training and experience, and pay raises come with experience too.
The base pay for Navy recruits is $1,833 per month, or a starting salary of $26,883 per year, according to FederalPay. With each year spent in the military, there are incentives to stay, like pay raises for years of service. Comparing that to the average salary of a civilian police officer, who the BLS reports are making a national average of $66,020 per year, you'll see that starting salaries will be much lower for a Navy police officer.
Job Outlook
As you continue in your years of service in the military, you'll have an increase in pay and rank. With each rank and year of service, you'll increase your pay grade or monthly salary. However, if you choose to retire from the military, you have the opportunity to become a civilian police officer. Many current police officers have military experience. With this civilian service, there are also some federal perks upon retirement. Some of these perks, like continued health care, may also be available to your dependents.