First off, here is a little info on me. 29 years old, 9 1/2 years as a cop in the Air Force, Associates in Criminal Justice, no prior drug use, no criminal history other than some shop lifting around 12-13 yrs old, few tickets here and there. Of my 9 1/2 years in the military 2 have been core LE, 2 a mix between LE/security, 2 in an admin type job, and 3 1/2 in nuclear security.
Here is my dilema. Stationed in Wyoming, but would like to work in Florida (grew up there). I get out of the military in about a month and have tested with 2 agencies (not ideal, but all that time would permit due to manning). One of them was in another state which fell through and the other was in S. Florida. The SO I applied with for a road patrol deputy position called me yesterday to offer me a job, however, it's in corrections. I plan to call them today and find out why corrections and not the road, but I assume it is because my EOT did not get approved, and it's very rare to find an agency in Fl that will sponsor you through the academy.
I'm married and have a kid, as well as all the bills that come along with being married for several years (vehicles and CC's). Nothing crazy, but enough that I can't see myself not working and trying to put myself through an academy while trying to support my family. I really have no interest in corrections, but it is a job, and it will get my foot in the door. However I've read a lot of posts concerning the huge turnover rate within corrections and I can't help but wonder if I'll be one of them seeing I'd be going into it kind of as a last resort.
They've stated I can compete to cross over to the road after 18 months, but being the FNG, I don't see that happening right away, as I assume a lot of people go into corrections with the intentions of going to the road as soon as possible. I feel I've done everything I can to make myself an attractive candidate, but the lack of a FL LE cert is holding me back. So I'm not sure if I should just take the corrections job and tough it out until I can either get hired on the road by another agency, or do the cross over with the same SO. Or if I should just turn down the job, get a full time job doing whatever to make ends meet, and keep applying to agencies. I was really hoping my EOT would get approved, but having my doubts now.
Does anyone know the EOT approval process? From what I've read online, it seems the agency/school decides if you meet the requirements or not. It is then forwarded to FDLE for final approval and to get paperwork issued showing I can take the EOT class. Is the FDLE portion just administrative or do they reverify all the information and either concur or nonconcur with the recommendation? Is it worth my efforts to apply to other agencies and try to get my EOT approved, or is very likely if one agency rejected it, they all will?
I know some people will have no sympathy for me simply because I want the road and not corrections, but I was hoping a degree and 9 1/2 years in the military would account for something when applying.
Here is my dilema. Stationed in Wyoming, but would like to work in Florida (grew up there). I get out of the military in about a month and have tested with 2 agencies (not ideal, but all that time would permit due to manning). One of them was in another state which fell through and the other was in S. Florida. The SO I applied with for a road patrol deputy position called me yesterday to offer me a job, however, it's in corrections. I plan to call them today and find out why corrections and not the road, but I assume it is because my EOT did not get approved, and it's very rare to find an agency in Fl that will sponsor you through the academy.
I'm married and have a kid, as well as all the bills that come along with being married for several years (vehicles and CC's). Nothing crazy, but enough that I can't see myself not working and trying to put myself through an academy while trying to support my family. I really have no interest in corrections, but it is a job, and it will get my foot in the door. However I've read a lot of posts concerning the huge turnover rate within corrections and I can't help but wonder if I'll be one of them seeing I'd be going into it kind of as a last resort.
They've stated I can compete to cross over to the road after 18 months, but being the FNG, I don't see that happening right away, as I assume a lot of people go into corrections with the intentions of going to the road as soon as possible. I feel I've done everything I can to make myself an attractive candidate, but the lack of a FL LE cert is holding me back. So I'm not sure if I should just take the corrections job and tough it out until I can either get hired on the road by another agency, or do the cross over with the same SO. Or if I should just turn down the job, get a full time job doing whatever to make ends meet, and keep applying to agencies. I was really hoping my EOT would get approved, but having my doubts now.
Does anyone know the EOT approval process? From what I've read online, it seems the agency/school decides if you meet the requirements or not. It is then forwarded to FDLE for final approval and to get paperwork issued showing I can take the EOT class. Is the FDLE portion just administrative or do they reverify all the information and either concur or nonconcur with the recommendation? Is it worth my efforts to apply to other agencies and try to get my EOT approved, or is very likely if one agency rejected it, they all will?
I know some people will have no sympathy for me simply because I want the road and not corrections, but I was hoping a degree and 9 1/2 years in the military would account for something when applying.
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