A question for the "old guys"

Hey Blues, what did you do in Law Enforcement? Right now I am working on a Criminology degree and plan to go into law enforcement, but I want something that is more out in the wilderness if you know what I mean. I dont want to be in a office or in a city even. What are my choices?
Wade
 
I think you young guys should not get married until 30, get some traveling done, hitch hike around europe, ride a motorcycle across the U.S. then settle down and have the time of your life raising a family.

I've had a ball playing dad, and its been the best adventure of my life. Summers when the kids were out of school we took the big vacation trips in the station wagon, later the minivan. I can't begin to describe the pleasure of seeing my kids reaction to real live buffalo in the campground in the badlands. Go canoeing and camping with the kids. If I had known it would have been this much fun, I'd have done it sooner.

My advise in a nutshell- go find the right woman and have fun raising your children in a close family relationship. Your wife and kids become your best friends in the adventure of life.

And with three kids think of all the time you'll spend in the woods with them teaching them survival stuff.
 
Wade, I worked primarily (except for a few years assigned to a DEA Task Force in Miami) with a couple of Treasury outfits.

I started out doing undercover work with organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs in NY. Following that I worked corruption, bribery, threats etc.

When I went down to FL I started in narcotics and money laundering and ended up working arms smuggling and anti-terrorism. (I did five years on an SRT team down there as well.)

I left when I found it was no longer something I was looking forward to doing when I got up in the morning. It happens for a variety of reasons on a variety of levels.

You might want to check in to the law enforcement sides of the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife and any number of state and local agencies with authority over parks, forests and wilderness.

Be aware that most don't pay all that well compared to the major departments or federal outfits, but then it all boils down to what you want and what sacrifices you're willing to make.

I took two or three voluntary downgrades during my career to get what and where I wanted and to me it was well worth it and in the end it didn't stop me from meeting my financial goals over the long term. I have little sympathy for those who are unwilling to make sacrifices to achieve their goals and want everything handed to them on a silver platter. (And I'm certainly not implying that you fit that profile.)

Don't give up or give in. Chances are you'll get where you want to be with persistence and talent.
 
Thanks, how did you like the DEA? That is one of the agencies that I am strongly considering.
 
wade said:
Thanks, how did you like the DEA? That is one of the agencies that I am strongly considering.
Click to expand...

Bureaucratic and administrative issues aside, it was some of the most fun I had on the job. Lot of raids, reverses, etc. Even had one caper that was lead story on 60 Minutes some years back regarding int'l smuggling and corruption in foreign governments and domestic agencies.
 
GET YOUR DEGREE!! before you do anything else! If you are still in school grab a minor in biology, forestry, agriculture, parks and recreation or something similar. Learn a foriegn language. Then maybe a hitch in the military. All branches of the military have, believe it or not, Game Wardens. Most work out of the security branch (MPs, SPs, etc.) but for some reason the USAF Game Wardens work out of Civil Engineering. You'll most likely be on a big base with lots of out of the way areas to patrol.

If the military isn't your bag, all 50 states and the Feds have game wardens, park rangers, forest rangers and the like. Pick the kind of weather you like and start applying. Feds pay pretty good, but the state agencies pay varies wildly, so do your research. I got my 30-year pin in January (state game warden) and it's still a fun job, so I'm staying til I can draw my SS (6 more years) or as long as my health holds out.

If I had it to do all over again? Good question...I'll get back to you on that.
 
Yeah- I'm only 32 but I'd have to agree; Since your already studying, get your degree first! I did it the opposite way around; army first then study. I was very fortunate to be trained by rhodesian, british and australian sas and a selous scout who all rank high in my mind as men who gave me great advice about the future and what i should do with myself (basically go all the way). I ignored them and went to art school instead, which turned out to lead to a great career in the arts/documentary film, but I will ALWAYS wonder what might have been :) The training has probably saved my life at least once, and given me a tast of REAL comradeship, something I've never since found in civilian life. So what would I do if I were you? Listen to your heart and head in equal measure, never pass by a good woman (keeper), and if at all possible get into the military for a few years; you will never forget the lessons you learn and the comradeship of brotehrs in arms that you cna truly trust with your life.
 
PS; if you do go with the army, when you travel to far-flung places and meet men around the world who are former professional soldiers, there is a recognition and instinctive trust there that will open many many doors that would have otherwise remained closed, so whatever you end up doing, it pays dividends to have that military experience behind you. If not, there's always fishing or hunting (another brotehrhood) or, I suppose, golf! :) good luck compadre.
W
 
Well...I'm turning 40 this year, which is sort of that even-tide between being old to some and young to others. I find it equally disturbing and refreshing when I'm addressed as 'sir' on the local campus. Comes with the grey hair, I guess.

I graduated college at age 23. (It's good to get in the habit of finishing the things you begin--pays dividends later in life.) Much to my folk's and girlfriend's (now ex-wife, hmmm) dismay, I decided to hitch-hike around central Canada and USA. Basically, I'd hitch a ride from national park to national park, at which point I'd hike solo across the park, pop out on the other side, and snag my next ride. Six months and 8,000 miles later, I knew a lot more about myself, the world, and its people.

My hairyest wilderness situation occured in Rocky Mountain National Park, where I took an easily avoidable fall into a stream full of 32 degree F water. The trauma to my pelvis caused me to lose the use of my legs for several hours. As luck would have it, this occured during an ice storm just below treeline. Hypothermia almost won that day. Although I eventually made it out in one piece, the experience permanently changed my approach to wilderness travel. I still travel primarily solo, but I'm (hopefully) a lot less caviliar (read: stupid) about things.

Aside with being threatened with mutiny charges on a Canadian ferry one blurry night, I managed to stay out of trouble. I've since quit drinking over a decade ago, and besides, technically, it was an Austrailian fellow who shares my name who incited the mutiny...something about the bar's closing time.

Mostly, I learned a lot about myself, what makes me tick, and what I value. I also learned a great deal about diplomacy and how to sniff out predators. One peculiar side effect after sleeping outside for six months: I was boiling hot whenever inside (68-72 degrees F) for a few months, but eventually that faded.

Oh yeah, I carried a SAK-Camper my grandma gave me for my tenth birthday throughout that trip. I came across it in a drawer the other day and smiled.

I'd do it all over again in a second. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I bought an 1100cc dual sport motorcyle last weekend, so it looks like I haven't completely worked through my wanderlust phase.
 
GET YOUR DEGREE- For sure

I did the military things years ago --Hated it ( to political for me )

I have a family now- but to this day I still dream of doing a walkabout across the U.S -selling it all.I would like to do the Northern trail from Maine to Washinton :)
Love to solo hike the Mountains in Colo-
Keeps me in shape and my senses sharp
 
Career: My primary suggestion is to finish your degree. Have a minor in something you are interested in. It may turn out that THIS is what you do for a career. Get a masters if possible. It is harder after you get into the work force.

Consider the military as a career. If you are good, it can lead to many kinds of opportunities down the road. Private industry is moving away from retirement plans to 401K type plans. Govenment still provides the retirement plans that when you get older you will prize.

Pleasure: Take that long trip and see the US or the world. You will always look fondly back at the experience as you learn about yourself, the ways of other people, and the wonderful things this world has to offer. Travel tends to ground you, make you much more interesting, and makes you love and respect the US and the many opportunities that are available and commonly taken for granted.

Collecting: If you like to accumulate things that you value, start with what you are interested in and go from there. Don't worry about prices in the short term as you are in for the long haul. But don't be stupid either. The thrill of the chase is lots of fun.

Money: Save money and invest. Make a plan and stick to it. Saving gets harder as you get assume more and more responsibility.

Marriage: Look objectively at your potential partner. Look at their family and the kind of people they are. He or she will likely be the same. If you choose a partner that has medical problems, go in with your eyes open. Choose a partner that shares your interests and respects you for who you are.
 
I'm 47 and coming to the end of a career working a job that I wasn't happy doing for the last 29 years. My kids are grown ( still have one teen) and after all these years I've found my calling in knifemaking. I suggest you try and find what makes you happy and go for it. A person can accomplish anything they want with the right mindset and attitude.
Scott
 
This may not be a popular suggestion, but....

If you are going to be irresponsible, i.e. bumming around the country for a year and having no responsibilities, then do it before you graduate from college. Employers want to see that you are responsible and going without a job for a year after you graduate will make them think you are someone who doesn't want responsibility. If a person graduates from college and doesn't have a job within six months, they almost become unemployable. This is a fact of life. Don't ignore it. The time to see the world is now. Then go back to school, graduate, and get on with your life. And don't think that I'm just some stiff shirted workaholic that doesn't understand life. I dropped out of high school and bummed around for a while myself. Did a lot of things I shouldn't have while not doing the things I should have. But now I have a graduate degree, a career, a family, and nobody even notices that I never graduated from high school. The younger you are when you get all that foolishness out of your system, the easier it is to get your life back on the track that society accepts.
 
Follow harstads suggestion and read "Walk across America", it will help you decide, (and learn a lot about America).
 
You know Wade you screwed up my whole day:jerkit: ,I don't have time to convey all my thoughts.....Fact is I've set here for 20 minutes day dreaming about how I was born a hundred years to late ...how a good horse and dog a new rifle and two kives a new one and old faithful, full roll of hard tack and on the trail somewhere very primal and secluded ...THANKS...NO REALLY ...THANKS.. FOR THE DAY DREAM....(hey:thumbup: RAZORBACK,THATS THE FIRST TWO THINGS YOU GRAB WHEN THE STRIKE DOG BAYS:thumbup: ...NICE)....hogdog.....Michael
 
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