College/Career Prep

Faith Smitherman

Introduction

In my last editorial, I wrote about three of the 6 programs offered here at Veterans Tribute. In this edition, I will tackle the last three programs that I haven’t spoken about. In this edition, I have gathered information about Law Enforcement, Cyber Security, and Forensic Science. Along with this, I have information about police academies, branches of Cyber Security, and lastly successful tips for those who want to pursue a career in Forensic Science. Without further ado, please enjoy my article.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Careers

Law Enforcement gives important information about so many different professions. The most common profession that comes with Law Enforcement is joining the police force. While this is true, Law Enforcement can help when seeking a wide variety of professions. Some of these occupations may be a CIA agent, corrections officer, FBI agent, private detective, and crime scene investigator.

Requirements for the Police Academy

To join the police force you must at least have obtained a high school diploma. Around 84% of police departments only require either a GED or a high school diploma. There isn’t a huge educational degree requirement but applicants who have at least 60-semester credits are more likely to be successful when pursuing this career. Another requirement to join the police force is to pass a physical fitness examination which also includes a medical test. The medical test consists of a lung capacity test, a musculoskeletal assessment, a BMI and blood pressure check, and lastly a hearing and eyesight test. The physical fitness assessment required exists to determine if someone has the stamina to be a police officer. Most applicants will pass the physical as long as they are relatively in shape and have prepared themselves. The last qualifications needed to be considered a certified police officer would be to pass the POST test, a written exam, and lastly a critical policy test.

POLICE ACADEMY

Most police academies are known to be harder than basic training. On average, police academies take around 26 weeks to complete but it really depends on which police academy you’re looking into. Different police academies have different rules but for some police academies you aren’t permitted to visit home, so it is something to keep in mind. Joining a police academy takes full dedication and a lot of hard work so if you choose to join an academy then working hard and staying determined every day should always be your top priority. In every police academy, it is required to take a lot of exams. Sometimes there are up to 14 written exams and usually, recruits will need to take 4 practical tests along with it. The 4 tests are composed of firearms, driving, defense tactics, and lastly first aid. Police academies, although very challenging, are extremely beneficial for those who plan on pursuing a career in the law enforcement field.

Cyber Security

Best Colleges, Careers, and Courses for Cyber Security

If you are currently looking into the cyber security fields then you probably know that there is a wide variety of colleges, occupations, and courses to pursue. Some of the best colleges recommended for those who want to continue with cyber security in the future are Alderson Broaddus University, Anderson University, ASU, Ashland University, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Utica College. These colleges are recommended for those who want a more goal-orientated college. Cyber security has 6 different branches; application security, network defense, intrusion detection, digital forensics and incident response, endpoint protection, and lastly governance/risk/compliance. All of these branches are very important and can lead to many job opportunities, especially since cybersecurity jobs are high in demand at the moment. Some cybersecurity occupations include; Security Analysts, Security Administration, Security Manager, Security Auditor, Forensics Expert, FBI agent, Identity Manager, and much more.

Six Branches of Cyber Security

The first branch of cybersecurity I will be talking about is Application Security. The point of Application Security is to test applications and look for weaknesses. Once a weakness is found, someone who is knowledgeable about application security will terminate the weakness before that software is officially released. The next branch is labeled Network Defense. Network Defense specialists will defend a program from any unauthorized actions. Another branch of Cybersecurity is Intrusion Detection, which is important because specialists in Intrusion Detection will monitor a network for any type of suspicious behavior. Moreover, the next branch is named “Digital Forensics and Incident Response”. Specialists in this area will analyze systems that have been compromised and will try to gather information about the attack and help assist with responding to the attack. The Digital Forensics and Incident Response’s primary focus is to collect data that can help prosecute criminals. Moving on, the next branch of Cybersecurity is named “Endpoint Protection”. The purpose of this branch is to protect endpoints from attacks, exploits, etc. The last branch of Cybersecurity is named “Governance, Risk, and Compliance”. Individuals working in this branch are responsible for developing standards, assessing risks, and lastly monitoring compliances with requirements.

Forensic Science

Colleges

Many people who attend Veterans Tribute are interested in Forensics Science, this is most likely due to the large variety of occupations that include forensics science. Some of the most common jobs that require forensics science are forensic scientist, analytical chemist, detective, private investigator, toxicologist, pathologist, forensic medical examiner, forensic engineer, forensic accountant, and crime laboratory analyst. While forensic science is a very broad field, it is also extremely competitive. This is why it is so important to try to get into a good college that has a phenomenal forensic science program. Some of these colleges include George Washington University, Iona University, University of Florida, University of New Haven, Penn State University, UMass Lowell, and lastly, Iowa State College. All of these colleges are goal-oriented around forensic science and are highly recommended for those planning to pursue a career in this field.

Best Tips

While the Forensic science field is extremely competitive, it isn’t impossible to be successful. I have gathered some of the most recommended tips for those who are interested in the forensic science field. Forensic science is heavily based on science, hence the name. This is why it is extremely important to join a program with a strong academic core in either science or math. Some of the more beneficial core classes include biochemistry, toxicology, analytical chemistry, and lastly instrumental science. Another tip for going into forensic science is to get familiar with scientific instruments beforehand. This will give you a headstart on getting familiar with your future workspace and tools. Another tip to help you better prepare for a forensic science career is to take extra courses in criminal justice, evidence handling, and even ethics. As a forensic scientist, you will be heavily working with law enforcement and criminal justice so it is also highly important to develop strong communication skills to better communicate with law enforcement and criminal justice. Perhaps one of the most important tips is to try and find opportunities that can give you hands-on experience through forensic science internships. This tip may be harder to achieve but it is definitely the most effective way to prepare yourself for a future in forensic science.

Works Cited

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“The Real Truth: How Hard Is the Police Academy?” Paladin Security, 2 Mar. 2021, https://paladinsecurity.com/security-careers/the-real-truth-how-hard-is-the-police-academy/.

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“What Are the Branches of Cybersecurity?” Woz U, 20 Apr. 2020, https://woz-u.com/blog/what-are-branches-of-cybersecurity/.

“Tips for Students Pursuing Careers in Forensic Science.” Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence, 17 Feb. 2020, https://forensicstats.org/blog/2020/02/17/tips-for-students-wanting-to-become-forensic-scientists/.

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