I'm curious about the Air Force military police job description. What do military police do on a daily basis in the Air Force, and what's the process to join this career path?
In the U.S. Air Force, the military police are more commonly referred to as Security Forces. This is a very versatile role that involves various types of security tasks.
On a day-to-day basis, Security Forces personnel carry out a wide range of duties, such as maintaining order on military posts, enforcing military laws and regulations, conducting criminal investigations, and offering protection to military personnel, equipment, and facilities. These duties can take form in anything from traffic stops to guarding aircraft or checking ID cards at the entrance to a base. Personnel may also be required to perform crowd control operations or work with military working dogs.
Being a part of the Security Forces requires a high degree of physical fitness and mental resilience. Individuals in this role might be exposed to challenging situations and need to be able to respond under pressure.
To become part of the Security Forces, you must first join the Air Force. This involves enlisting and going through the Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT), which lasts around 8.5 weeks. Should you express an interest in the Security Forces, you will take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), where you must achieve at least a general score of 33 and a mechanical score of 40.
After that, you'll attend a specialized technical training program at the Security Forces Academy, located in San Antonio, Texas, that lasts 65 days. Here, you'll learn necessary skills in law enforcement and combat tactics, anti-terrorism measures, and how to operate various weaponry and vehicles. The training will involve both classroom-based learning and field exercises.
One thing to be aware of is that this job may require you to be deployed overseas or domestically in time of war, unrest, natural disaster, or in other contingency situations.
If you're passionate about law enforcement and keen on serving in a role of protection and security, this path could be a good fit for you.
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