Job Family: Security and Armed Forces

People working in security and the armed forces help to protect both people and property. There are opportunities for both front-line personnel and support staff.

There is a diverse range of career choices available with:

• the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF) - including jobs at home and abroad in a variety of combat and support roles
• the police and prison services - officers, instructors, crime scene investigators, and community support officers work closely together to prevent, detect and solve crimes, and in educating and rehabilitating offenders
• the fire and rescue services, which include firefighters and coastguard incident response and rescue teams
• private security - close protection officers, store detectives and security officers are on constant alert, protecting people and premises.

Technology is being used more often, particularly in intelligence gathering to help anticipate potentially dangerous situations. This means there are more office-based roles, but most work involves a great deal of challenging, physical outdoor work, which is often the reason why people choose to work in this sector. Shift work and long hours are common, especially during operations or exercises. Recruits to the armed forces may be required to work anywhere in the world.

There are over 140,000 police officers employed in regional and non-geographic forces such as the British Transport Police. The Army employs just over 100,000 people. The Royal Navy employs over 34,000 and nearly 40,000 people work within the RAF. The UK private security industry employs around 500,000 people. Protecting businesses against theft, data loss and terrorism activities are big growth areas, with opportunities across the UK.

Common sense, confidence and communication skills are essential. Part of the recruitment processes for the police and armed forces involve assessing physical fitness and leadership qualities. Employers look for people who think quickly, read situations accurately and work well within a team.

Entry and training requirements depend on the occupation and the level of entry. For instance, it is possible to join the armed forces in a junior rank with no educational qualifications; however some roles require qualifications such as A levels or even a degree for entry. The minimum age for entry to the police and to security guarding and door supervision is 18. The Diploma in public services may be relevant for some jobs.

Police officers begin their careers at a police training centre and have to pass a two-year training probationary period. For some areas of work a professional qualification is needed. Many security jobs are now licensed. The armed forces offer structured and continuous training, including Apprenticeships in technical trades. The opportunity to take professional and vocational qualifications, including NVQs, may be available as part of the training.

Skills gained in the armed forces and police are highly valued by commercial and public sector employers. Many transfer into private security or specialist jobs, utilising their military or police knowledge. Members of the armed forces are offered resettlement training to aid the transition into civilian careers.

Why not have a look at other career family articles as they may hold information on related jobs.

March 2010