Recruit the Best at U.S. Army Reserves

By Thomas C. Barnes

Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States continue struggling with their recruiting and retention needs.

A variety of factors cause these challenges, and although solutions are few and far between, one may be found at your nearest US Army Reserve Center.

“Law enforcement is a special opportunity for military veterans and a great way to continue to serve one’s country and community. ” – Thomas Barnes

The US Army Reserve Private Public Partnership Office (P3) offers a unique partnership opportunity which is entirely free of charge to its partner agencies and its networks of US Army Reserve soldiers, veterans, and family members. P3 assists law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout the country in their efforts to recruit qualified candidates.

Veterans and members of the US Army Reserve bring a unique experience and valuable skill set to the civilian work force. But they are often a natural fit for para-military organizations and law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement is a special opportunity for military veterans and a great way to continue to serve one’s country and community. For this reason, P3 has law enforcement experts reaching out to US Army Reserve soldiers, Military Police Officers, Criminal Investigators, veteran job seekers, and civilian law enforcement partners at local, state, and federal levels interested in hiring veterans.

Employing military veterans and their family members naturally creates a positive return on investment and easy to accomplish through P3’s partnerships.

A P3 partnership reduces recruiting costs for partners, and improves recruiting efficiency by providing partners with access to a candidate pool of trained and experienced US Army Reserve Soldiers and Veterans with demonstrated leadership abilities, law enforcement knowledge and experience, strong work ethic, and dedication to serving their country and community.

At a strength of approximately 14,000 Soldiers, the 200th Military Police Command is the largest military police organization in the entire Department of Defense, the fourth largest police organization in the United States, and is primarily comprised of US Army Reserve Soldiers.

Subordinate elements of this command are dispersed throughout the United States, and its members often serve simultaneously in a variety of law enforcement, corrections, and public safety occupations which creates an added value to both organizations that the command’s leadership acknowledges and supports.

Brigadier General Marion Garcia, Acting Commanding General, 200th Military Police Command had this to say: “Our Army Reserve military police soldiers are professionals who make great hires in the civilian law enforcement world. They all bring a sense of duty and a commitment to excellence. Additionally, our NCOs and officers bring leadership skills and an ability to adapt to evolving situations. Many of them already have civilian law enforcement experience. I can’t think of a better hire than our military police for jobs in the law enforcement profession.”

Agencies seeking additional information are asked to visit www.usar.army.mil/P3 or contact their headquarters at usarmy.usarc.ocar.mbx.p3@mail.mil, or by phone at (703-806-7551).

Thomas Barnes is a Law Enforcement Strategic Subject Matter Expert with the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve Private Public Partnership Office. You can email him at thomas.c.barnes30.ctr@mail.mil.