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Natalie
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
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How do I become a Security Forces Officer in the Air Force
#air-force
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3 answers
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Training Officer / EMT
83
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Natalie!
There are a few ways to become a Air Force security forces officer.
First, let's make sure we're on the same page. In the military, an "Officer" typically refers to the management level supervisors in any career field. So, a security forces officer holding the rank of Captain, might supervise an entire squadron of 100+ security forces airmen. In the civilian world, an "Officer" typically refers to the lowest ranking members of a police department - the individuals who perform law enforcement duties everyday, but often don't supervise others.
So, if your question used Security Forces "Officer" in the typical civilian use of the term, your best bet is to reach out to your local US Air Force Recruiter. Let them know you are interested in Security Forces and they will let you know the requirements and process for enlisting. You'll need a high school diploma or GED, a clean medical bill of health, no criminal record, and meet a minimum score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB).
If your question used Security Forces "Officer" in the military use of the world, the process is a little more complicated.
To become a military officer, you must first earn a Bachelor's Degree. Depending on your goals, timeline, and financial situation, there are 3 primary ways of doing this.
1) US Air Force Academy - attend this strict but prestigious school in Colorado for 4-years, at almost no cost to you. Your Junior/Senior year, request a career in Security Forces, and if selected, you will be sent to Security Forces training after you graduate!
2) ROTC - the Reserve Officer Training Program or ROTC is similar to the Academy in that upon graduation you become a military officer and are sent to train into the career field they select for you. However, it differs from the Academy in that it is typically a less strict / structured environment. You attend any one of thousands of universities that offer ROTC, and except when you're in ROTC class, you're a fairly typical college student. Think of it as training to become an officer part-time instead of full-time!
3) OTS - the third and final way is through Officer Training School (OTS), sometimes called OCS or Officer Candidate School. In this option, you complete your Bachelor's Degree on your own with no simultaneous officer training. OTS is available to civilians with no military experience and open for enlisted military members who want to promote into a management role. Once you earn your Bachelor's, you then apply for OTS. If selected, you complete an accelerated ~10 week "boot camp" style training in Alabama, at the end of which you will be an officer. At some point in the 10 weeks, you will request a career in Security Forces, if selected, then you will attend the very same technical training as the other officers who graduated from The Academy or ROTC.
You may have noticed in all 3 options that you do not get to request your career field until you are already committed to becoming an officer. The expectation is that your first priority is to be a leader, and that you should be willing to be a leader in whatever career field the Air Force needs you to be in. That said, Security Forces Officers are not a high demand / highly competitive assignment - everyone I went through ROTC with that wanted to become a Security Forces Officer was selected for it, so your chances are pretty good!
I hope this clarified and answered your question! Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
There are a few ways to become a Air Force security forces officer.
First, let's make sure we're on the same page. In the military, an "Officer" typically refers to the management level supervisors in any career field. So, a security forces officer holding the rank of Captain, might supervise an entire squadron of 100+ security forces airmen. In the civilian world, an "Officer" typically refers to the lowest ranking members of a police department - the individuals who perform law enforcement duties everyday, but often don't supervise others.
So, if your question used Security Forces "Officer" in the typical civilian use of the term, your best bet is to reach out to your local US Air Force Recruiter. Let them know you are interested in Security Forces and they will let you know the requirements and process for enlisting. You'll need a high school diploma or GED, a clean medical bill of health, no criminal record, and meet a minimum score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB).
If your question used Security Forces "Officer" in the military use of the world, the process is a little more complicated.
To become a military officer, you must first earn a Bachelor's Degree. Depending on your goals, timeline, and financial situation, there are 3 primary ways of doing this.
1) US Air Force Academy - attend this strict but prestigious school in Colorado for 4-years, at almost no cost to you. Your Junior/Senior year, request a career in Security Forces, and if selected, you will be sent to Security Forces training after you graduate!
2) ROTC - the Reserve Officer Training Program or ROTC is similar to the Academy in that upon graduation you become a military officer and are sent to train into the career field they select for you. However, it differs from the Academy in that it is typically a less strict / structured environment. You attend any one of thousands of universities that offer ROTC, and except when you're in ROTC class, you're a fairly typical college student. Think of it as training to become an officer part-time instead of full-time!
3) OTS - the third and final way is through Officer Training School (OTS), sometimes called OCS or Officer Candidate School. In this option, you complete your Bachelor's Degree on your own with no simultaneous officer training. OTS is available to civilians with no military experience and open for enlisted military members who want to promote into a management role. Once you earn your Bachelor's, you then apply for OTS. If selected, you complete an accelerated ~10 week "boot camp" style training in Alabama, at the end of which you will be an officer. At some point in the 10 weeks, you will request a career in Security Forces, if selected, then you will attend the very same technical training as the other officers who graduated from The Academy or ROTC.
You may have noticed in all 3 options that you do not get to request your career field until you are already committed to becoming an officer. The expectation is that your first priority is to be a leader, and that you should be willing to be a leader in whatever career field the Air Force needs you to be in. That said, Security Forces Officers are not a high demand / highly competitive assignment - everyone I went through ROTC with that wanted to become a Security Forces Officer was selected for it, so your chances are pretty good!
I hope this clarified and answered your question! Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
Gregory Bass
Security Forces/ Law Enforcement
9
Answers
Girard, Ohio
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
There are three ways to become an officer in the Air Force. There is the ROTC route which you can get a scholarship through the Air Force and they will pay for your classes. There is the Air Force Academy route which is extremely selective but very rewarding. Lastly there is the OTS route which is the one I am most familiar with. This route works best if you already have your bachelors degree or are within a year of having it. It is a long process. For some people it can take 6 months for others it has taken years. As for the security Forces side both officers and enlisted go through the same Tech school. The security Forces apprentice course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The training isn’t very hard as long as you pay attention in the classes. The hardest part for some is the attention to detail part. The instructors are all Security Forces members or retirees who volunteer to come train you. They usually have a far amount of experience. It is definitely a rewarding career field with a lot of opportunities to help people.
Tom Gillespie
Senior Director Franchise Leader / Retired US Army Warrant Officer
12
Answers
Heath, TX
Updated
Tom’s Answer
Natalie,
I agree with Ryan’s comments and not sure where you are in high school or college right now but another way to know if you really enjoy being an Air Force Security Forces Officer would be to join the Air Force or Army Reserves. It allows you to choose your field being enlisted so you can be in the Security Forces, it provides experience, money right now, could provide you with Officer recommendations for OTS, and provides the GI Bill to pay for college.
Remember the military has other options for careers so don’t only consider one branch of service. If you would be interested in the US Army, they have a program called Green to Gold where if awarded, you enter the Army gain experience and then go to college where this becomes your duty station. This program provides you with your pay, tuition, books, supplies, equipment, along with room and board. These provide options depending on the number of years of college completed.
Another option if you want a guaranteed Security career field would be in the US Army Warrant Officer program. The US Army Reserves would give you the experience required to apply for this program especially if you want to stay technical and you choose your career field this is a great option.
Please let me know if you have any further questions!
I agree with Ryan’s comments and not sure where you are in high school or college right now but another way to know if you really enjoy being an Air Force Security Forces Officer would be to join the Air Force or Army Reserves. It allows you to choose your field being enlisted so you can be in the Security Forces, it provides experience, money right now, could provide you with Officer recommendations for OTS, and provides the GI Bill to pay for college.
Remember the military has other options for careers so don’t only consider one branch of service. If you would be interested in the US Army, they have a program called Green to Gold where if awarded, you enter the Army gain experience and then go to college where this becomes your duty station. This program provides you with your pay, tuition, books, supplies, equipment, along with room and board. These provide options depending on the number of years of college completed.
Another option if you want a guaranteed Security career field would be in the US Army Warrant Officer program. The US Army Reserves would give you the experience required to apply for this program especially if you want to stay technical and you choose your career field this is a great option.
Please let me know if you have any further questions!