Is a 31B a good career choice in the Army Natl Guard?

2018-02-05T10:04:29-05:00

I plan on pursuing a career in Law Enforcement, and then hopefully joining the FBI. So I assumed a 31B would be the best bet for me, unless anyone knows something better

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2018 10:17 AM

2018-02-05T10:17:26-05:00

Go to college, Get an accounting degree and you are a shoe-in for the Feds. They Follow the money and do little in actual crime fighting.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 5 at 2018 11:12 AM

2018-02-05T11:12:43-05:00

Military law enforcement and civilian law enforcement are not the same. Having military law enforcement experience will not give you extra points during the hiring process. An Army cook and an Army MP are both looked at the same. Being in the Guard will help, so pick a job you like. But if you are just joining the Guard because you think it will help you get hired as a civilian cop, then don’t waste your time. Plus Guard MP’s don’t usually work law enforcement assignments anyway. All federal jobs require a bachelors degree to get hired. So you should would work on getting your degree also.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Feb 5 at 2018 3:13 PM

2018-02-05T15:13:55-05:00

Good start, get your degree if you want FBI, transfer to CID after you have you credits

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2018 6:51 PM

2018-02-05T18:51:28-05:00

I spent a couple years as a local police officer, interviewed and began the process with a few federal places and there are few finer points to federal recruiting. One, you need to be ready for a long process. It is going to take a while so be patient. Two, having a degree is pretty much needed unless you can bring 10+ years of detective experience to the table and even then a degree does not hurt. As mentioned, accounting along with computer science or other related fields are also big areas the feds are looking for. Three, and while this is word of mouth from the feds they have a shortage of people who have real-world policing experience and the (FBI) if you look is specifically recruiting prior military/law enforcement personnel (check out usajobs.gov and search under 1811 series). Four, having military service will give you points but that is only if you meet certain criteria. Also, law enforcement experience, in general, will give you a leg up on many college grads who have just stayed in school and are applying to the FBI or Feds in general with college and maybe some internships under their belt.

Are you joining the guard because you want the experience and use it as a stepping stone to bigger things? Or because you need it to help fund college?

My recommendation is this: If you need help with college and want to get some experience join the guard and if you are able to get 31B then even better. Now, I will also recommend this; I worked with many guys in the reserves and guard who were local LEO's, so you could get hired by a local department, as well as being in the guard. That department will honor your commitment to the guard or at least they should. This will give you the opportunity to gain money for college, military, and local policing experience. Once you get your degree and have a few years on the department it will definitely make you a very competitive candidate.

Of course, that is just my opinion and it solely rests on you as to whether you want to work and do school or just primarily focus on school and worry about a career later. I can say that I was able to do work full time as a police officer and do school but it is challenging. I wish you the best. If you have any questions feel free to message me. Also, I would look to SSG Berg for National Guard advice and 1SG Niles makes a good point about getting some college and look into CID as an option.

Response by SGT James Wisejr made Feb 5 at 2018 7:44 PM

2018-02-05T19:44:38-05:00

Its a good start. But I would recommend also getting started in some college . Getting a degree in criminal justice decree. Will give you a better chance in that endever when you leave the service. Also , it will help in advancing your career in the service. MPI and CID and promotion. At least when I was in during the 80s . Promotion is hard to get in this field.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2018 5:08 AM

2018-02-06T05:08:00-05:00

I've been in both L&O and Combat MP units in the National Guard. One thing I can attest to is that it IS a good place to get your feet wet. Law Enforcement isn't a field for everyone. I've seen many cases where people think they want to get in the LE field and then realize it's not actually for them. Another thing to note is that a LOT of National Guard MPs are in Law Enforcement on the civilian side. It's a great place to make connections and rub elbows.

If you want to take it a step further, there are many opportunities to work as a L&O MP on full time orders for a year or two to get a better understanding of Law Enforcement as a whole. Just like everyone else on this thread, work on that degree! The National Guard has amazing college benefits!

Response by SFC James Heath made Feb 6 at 2018 10:05 AM

2018-02-06T10:05:56-05:00

Many police-type jobs are now contracted to civilian companies. Also, a lot of MPs are assigned to field duties supporting large infantry units. If you want experience in police work join the USMC to become an MP. Their job field has been corrupted like other services.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2018 4:20 PM

2018-02-06T16:20:07-05:00

All of the advice here is applicable. It's hard to tailor a specific response because your circumstances and near term goals aren't listed. Having been an MP in three states' National Guard and in law enforcement since 2003, I will offer a few words. If your end goal is to gain employment in the FBI, focus on the path that gets your degree completed in the shortest timeframe. This might mean going to school full time and joining the National Guard as opposed to going Active Duty and taking night classes for 10 years to piece together a degree (like I did). Also, I would recommend a degree other than Criminal Justice. Psychology, Accounting, or Forensic Science will hold more value to the FBI. Let me know if I can be of further help.

Response by SGT David Crutchfield made Feb 6 at 2018 7:58 PM

2018-02-06T19:58:36-05:00

When did it change? It was 95B when I was in, 31 series was signal

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2018 3:09 PM

2018-02-08T15:09:55-05:00

I joined the guard as a 31b and I think it's a great idea. You'll go to BCT and AIT then you can go to college to get a degree in criminal justice. Then you'll go one week every month to drill. I recommend joining the guard.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2018 11:18 PM

2018-02-11T23:18:06-05:00

Personally, I think it can help. I had the same goals as well, though I really wish I would’ve went active because I can’t now and I’m regretting it. But I did get accepted into the police academy easily with the MP background.

Response by 1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS made Feb 12 at 2018 4:50 PM

2018-02-12T16:50:34-05:00

Well, if you want to go LE, then FBI, the college is more important than the active duty MP experience, IMHO. By joining the Guard, you'll get college completely paid for (most states offer the tuition waiver to Guardsmen), MP training and experience and doesn't lose 3+ yrs of your life.

Plus, there's the obvious. if you go Guard and hate Army life you're only committed for 39 days a year. If you love it, you can always go active duty. if you go active duty and hate it, you're stuck.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2018 1:47 PM

2018-02-18T13:47:26-05:00

If you like becoming an 88M, if not I’d say choose something else.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2018 7:08 PM

2018-02-18T19:08:22-05:00

If your end state career goal is the FBI I do not recommend going MP. The FBI's investigations are primary technical in nature. You'd likely be better served with a background in accounting, computer forensics, intelligence/counter-intel, or language. The FBI has no shortage of cops with traditional criminal justice backgrounds applying, what they do tend to be short in are the more intellectual positions because most people working those jobs have higher earning potential outside the FBI and a lot of them don't want to work as a federal agent.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2018 1:15 PM

2018-02-20T13:15:35-05:00

I am a 31B and I love it... depending on the unit you go to, combat support, or garrison... this could be perfect for you. It shows you have a little bit of experience in the field so they are more towards hiring you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2018 9:47 PM

2018-02-20T21:47:54-05:00

Lots of good opinions here.

Something not recommended previous is everyone of the 54 state and territories have counter drug task forces. This can give a minor advantage to ARNG personnel who can secure a position. These task forces can vary to small to very robust depending on the funding model that the particular state falls into. These programs can be excellent pathways into law enforcement careers and many skills gained in these task forces can give you a leg up on other potential candidates.

I don't believe a lot of skills from the 31B MOS will transfer necessarily over to the FBI. Of course MPI and CID will help tremendously. Military Service is always recommended

Bottom line for me would be:
-Which pathway will allow you to pursue a Bachelors Degree to completion?

Response by SPC Kelley McMahan made Mar 7 at 2018 11:48 AM

2018-03-07T11:48:35-05:00

On top of the other responses here, there is one other thing I would suggest, a foreign language. All Federal agencies desperately need foreign language speakers. And while I have over the years met many Federal agents, FBI, DEA, ATF and the like. The Marshals Service and Secret Service seemed to be the most courteous and professional to me. And the Marshals are jump out and get the bad guy cops, at least the ones I met were. Just be careful if you look at DHS. From what I have heard there morale is not the best and is cut throat and backstabby behind the scenes. Or so I have been told.

Response by SGT Hoyle West made Jun 7 at 2018 2:14 AM

2018-06-07T02:14:00-04:00

Feds definitely like the paperwork. However depending on your state. Your 31B now carries over to civilian police.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 20 at 2024 10:12 AM

2024-04-20T10:12:33-04:00

I toyed with the idea of FBI, but as I recall, Mr. Hoover required most to be a lawyer and some to be accountants.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2024 2:33 PM

2024-04-21T14:33:22-04:00

Thanks for signing up to serve. I was a decade MP and served with a state level version of the FBI. My MP background added no true value. Look at MI, where you will get a top secret background done and clearance issued, as well a maximum college credit on your JST. Just my 2 cents based on my life experiences.