Leaving a military lifestyle and returning to civilian life can be quite challenging for many people, especially in a professional career where you must find relevant jobs matching your experience. However, earning a public safety degree can make it quite easy to find such jobs. How so? This degree builds on your military skills and prepares you for security, emergency management, law enforcement, and more jobs. It helps you move smoothly into a new, meaningful career. Here is a detailed guide on what you can do with a public safety degree as a military professional, so you can decide whether it is a good career path or not.
Transitioning Challenges from Military to Civilian
After retirement or leaving the military for any other reason, many veterans struggle to adjust to their civilian lifestyle. PEW Research suggests that nearly half of post-9/11 veterans find it difficult to adjust to civilian life, often due to challenges like employment mismatch and loss of structure. Military jobs are quite different from civilian jobs. Veterans are often used to structure, teamwork, and leadership in civilian jobs that don’t always match. Confusion also exists about how to translate military skills into civilian roles. Some are out of place or unsure of what career to pursue. Also, financial pressure, family responsibilities, and lack of a career path contribute to the overall stress. But a public safety degree is quite useful in such a case. It helps you find jobs that value discipline, responsibility and calm thinking under pressure, offers direction, and uses your strengths.
From Degree to Duty: Landing Your First Public Safety Job
A public safety degree prepares you to work on jobs that require solid, dependable people who can work under pressure and in difficult situations, jobs as saving lives for making informed decisions during natural disasters. In this degree, you can study emergency management, criminal justice, disaster response, and security management. Additionally, you practice leadership and communication skills that you already possess. You can study from anywhere, even while working or at home, with online degrees offered by many schools and colleges. After you get the degree, you can apply for jobs in the relevant departments, such as law enforcement, emergency services (fire, hospital), or federal agencies, such as FEMA and DHS.
Federal Jobs for Public Safety Graduates
Here are some public safety degree jobs you can check out in federal government departments like FEMA, Homeland Security, and many more:
1. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for protecting the country from natural and man-made threats. This organization was created in the wake of the September 11 attacks in order to safeguard the nation against terrorist threats and natural disasters. In this role, veterans can utilize their experience in public safety, leadership, and crisis response skills that they have acquired during their military service. If you have a Public Safety degree, you may work in the following roles within DHS::
- Border Protection. You are a border patrol agent who monitors the US borders to prevent illegal activity.
- Transportation Security. As a Transportation Security Officer (TSO), you ensure that airports are safe for travelers.
- Cybersecurity and infrastructure protection. Provide protection against cyberattacks or terrorist attacks against digital systems and key buildings.
2. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in charge of responding to disasters and emergencies and addressing their effects. As a federal agency, its primary mission is to provide disaster relief to communities and states nationwide by mobilizing federal resources to prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and emergencies. They need trained professionals who can act quickly and organize recovery efforts during hurricanes, floods, and other crises. Popular FEMA roles for public safety graduates include:
- Emergency Management Specialist. Helps communities prepare for and respond to disasters.
- Disaster Recovery Specialist. Works in affected areas after natural disasters, helping with aid and rebuilding.
- Preparedness Analyst. Creates emergency plans and runs training drills.
3. US Secret Service
The US Secret Service is a division of the Department of Homeland Security that protects the president, vice president, and other designated individuals and investigates crimes against the financial system of the United States. Graduates of public safety programs can find jobs like:
- Protective Detail. Guarding government officials including president and vice president.
- Investigative Division. Assisting with complex financial and cybercrime cases.
- Coordination of security measures. Preparation for events that will take place at the national level in terms of safety.
4. US Marshals Service
In America, US Marshals Service (USMS) is one of the oldest and most versatile agencies in law enforcement, and it provides a lot of services. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is mandated with the enforcement of federal laws, assistance in the administration of justice and the arrest of dangerous fugitives. Among its responsibilities, the USMS also protects federal courthouses, operates seized assets, and runs the Witness Security Program among other roles. The public safety responsibilities of this agency include:
- Deputy US Marshal. Legislates and enforces federal laws and controls prisoner operations.
- Security Specialist. Protect judges or important people in the courthouse by organizing the safety of the building.
5. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
ATF is a law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice that is responsible for enforcing criminal laws related to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives (ATF). Among its responsibilities are fighting violent crime, criminal organizations, illegal firearms use and trafficking, and illicit alcohol and tobacco. Investigators and prosecutors at the ATF assist with arson investigations, bombing investigations, and terrorism investigations as well. Public Safety graduates have the following job options:
- Special Agent. Conduct undercover investigations and gather evidence to support your case.
- Explosives Enforcement Officer. Taking care of chemical hazards and bomb threats.
- Fire Research Investigator. Investigate the causes of fires in order to prevent future incidents.
6. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI is the leading law enforcement agency in the nation. A national security organization whose mission is to safeguard the nation’s national security by use of intelligence and concentrating on threats in intelligence and law enforcement activities. Being the investigation arm of the US Department of Justice, the FBI is beyond doubt considered to be the first source of information and a member of the US Intelligence Community as a whole. Although most Special Agent jobs require several years of experience, there are a number of support jobs that are appropriate for Public Safety degree holders including:
- Intelligence Analyst: Analyzes raw data and trends in order to deliver actionable intelligence that will help national security and criminal investigations.
- Security Specialist: Oversees physical and information security procedures that safeguard FBI facilities, personnel, and classified materials.
- Operational Support Technician: Provides key administrative and technical support to FBI agents and analysts to guarantee smooth daily operations.
7. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a federal government agency responsible for the regulation of security in all forms of transport. This includes aviation, public transport and freight transport. It was established in reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks to protect the nation’s transportation networks so that people and commerce can move freely. Job roles provided by the agency include:
- Behavior Detection Officer. Observe suspicious behavior at airports.
- Transportation Security Specialist. Determine and investigate threats concerning transportation.
- Inspector or Training Officer. Make sure that all safety regulations are followed at all times.
8. National Park Service (NPS) – Law Enforcement Ranger
In the National Park Service (NPS), a Law Enforcement Ranger is an officer that has a duty to provide public safety and protect natural and cultural resources of national parks. Apart from enforcing federal laws within park boundaries, they may also be mandated to carry out investigations, search and rescue efforts, and other types of emergency response. Such are the duties that are provided in the position, namely:
- Patrolling Park Grounds: Policing park regulations, maintains safety of visitors and conserves natural and cultural resources through regular patrols.
- Helping in Search-and-Rescue Missions: Helps to find and rescue lost/injured visitors in remote/hazardous park areas.
- Responding to Visitor Emergencies: Provides first aid, coordinates emergency response and ensures an immediate response to medical or safety accidents.
Conclusion
A bachelor’s degree in public safety is a good place to begin for a veteran who wants to transition into civilian life and move up in his or her career. Students who will receive this degree will have the opportunity to take courses in law, police, disaster response, and security management, while also learning leadership and communication skills that will prepare them to work for agencies dealing with issues of public safety. By the right education and support that you deserve, your transition can be a successful, respected, and rewarding career.
Flexible Online Public Safety Degree Programs
