Who Has Harder Job: Armed Forces or Police?

SGT Christopher Churilla — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:08:48 -0400

Today (19 Sep 15) is National Thank A Police Officer Day, and it got me wondering about who has a harder job, the armed forces or the police.

We travel to foreign countries for 9 months or more on our deployments and come home, while their "deployments" are in whatever jurisdiction they serve and while they get to come home every night, their "deployments" never end.

What do you think, Rally Point community?

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 19 at 2015 8:10 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:10:39 -0400

We shouldn't compare them. Both have their difficulties and their successes. Lets enjoy that we have people who would put their lives on the line for someone they don't know just because they believe it's the right thing to do.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Sep 19 at 2015 8:24 PM

SSgt David Tedrow — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:24:27 -0400

As a LEO, I thank you all for your support.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Sep 19 at 2015 8:42 PM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:42:14 -0400

They are two different worlds.

As a sailor, I enjoyed the cycle. Pre-deployment training, then crew change (SSBN, Blue and Gold crews), patrol, then back home for leave, and back to pre-deployment training. The Army and USMC folks I see do the same cycle, perhaps longer in each part.

After my naval service, I've served in public safety for 40 years. For public safety folks, there is no "workup" - you are deployed all the time, except when you go on individual leave (vacation). What we lack is enough people, and enough time, to do training. If you are able to train, it is barely enough to keep the minimum proficiencies. There is little or no "going to school" to engage in career development - especially leadership development. We promote the best cops, firefighters, and paramedics to supervisor positions, and wonder why they have difficulty in their new positions. We need to have time and space to have the equivalent of NCO academies, career officer courses, etc. I shall continue to dream......

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 19 at 2015 9:14 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 21:14:24 -0400

The police, without a doubt...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 10:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:36:29 -0400

The police have a harder job for sure... I have a lot of stories to back that up but I probably shouldn't talk about that

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 10:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:42:16 -0400

Both careers are extremely difficult and deserve way more respect than they receive. They are not comparable as far as which is harder, but very important.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 19 at 2015 10:50 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:50:09 -0400

Each of us face the possibility of death in our chosen profession, but the idea of walking up to a vehicle that may have someone that wants to shoot me kind of gives me the creeps. Do I really have to thank my son-in-law whom I dislike?

Response by CPT Russell Pitre made Sep 19 at 2015 10:55 PM

CPT Russell Pitre — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 22:55:22 -0400

I would no want to do their job. At least we can't get sued. I know we have it rough they are like they are deployed for their whole time there. Even when they are off they can still be attacked. We can too but we are pretty safe compared to police.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 20 at 2015 2:49 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 02:49:32 -0400

I think law enforcement. They are on the line all the time.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 20 at 2015 6:12 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 06:12:04 -0400

Location, Location, Location. Depends where you are a Police Officer or where you are serving in the Military. The Police Officers that Patrol the Johnson County Bike Trails on Bikes have a pretty good gig. The Guys that work SE Kansas City, not so much. As a Sailor on a Staff Command I had a pretty good gig. Doing Tactical Intelligence just outside Bushehr Iran, not so much.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 10:37 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 10:37:55 -0400

Both jobs have the same outlook by our own population; we're both not wanted until we're needed. I'd rather we not break it down further and compare ourselves.

I will say I make it a point to thank police officers when given a chance to.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2016 11:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 23:36:36 -0400

that's easy Armed Forces Police. We have to do both jobs!

ASSIST, PROTECT, DEFEND

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2017 12:09 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 00:09:44 -0500

Armed Force Police is the Right Answer