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Main Page How old do you have to be to join the Mass State Police?
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: mgs2ss

I am just curious how old you have to be before you can work there full time. I'm 17 right now, and I'm trying to decide if I should just get my Bachelor's degree (which I'll be getting after the spring semester in a few months), or if I should go for my Master's degree, which would take until I am at least 20.

I have heard from some people that you need to be at least 21, so if that is true, it would make things a lot more simple for me.

If you do only have to be 18 would you suggest that I try to get a job, or go for my Master's?

Posted by: KozmoKramer

It's all right here MGS2SS. The MSP Web Site.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopssubt...gram&sid=Eeops

Qualifications

High School Diploma or G.E.D.
Ability to obtain a valid Massachusetts firearms license
At least 21 years old and less than 35 years old on the last application filing date
Must pass entrance examination
Must pass a thorough background investigation prior to employment. *No person, who has been convicted of a felony or any offense punishable under M.G.L. Chapter 94C (drug law violations); or has been convicted of a misdemeanor and has been confined to any jail or house of correction as punishment for said crime, M.G.L. Chapter 22 C section 14, will be considered for employment.
Must pass physical fitness test
Must pass medical examination
Must pass psychological examination
Must successfully complete swimming requirements
Must be a United States citizen upon appointment to the State Police Academy
Must have a Massachusetts driver's license prior to Academy graduation
Must be a Massachusetts resident prior to Academy graduation
In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 22 C section 10, no member or trainee appointed or hired after January 1, 1988 shall smoke any tobacco product.

Posted by: CTrain

You're 17 and will be getting your Bachelor's at the end of spring semester?! Meaning you graduated high school when you were... 13 or 14?

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTrain

You're 17 and will be getting your Bachelor's at the end of spring semester?! Meaning you graduated high school when you were... 13 or 14?

... Doogie Houser?

Posted by: GARDA

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTrain

You're 17 and will be getting your Bachelor's at the end of spring semester?! Meaning you graduated high school when you were... 13 or 14?

Either an oversight by mgs2ss, or he's obviously overqualified

Posted by: Southside

by the time they test again you might be to old

Posted by: kttref

I feel stupid...

Posted by: Foxy85

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherparatrooper

... Doogie Houser?

Posted by: mgs2ss

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTrain

You're 17 and will be getting your Bachelor's at the end of spring semester?! Meaning you graduated high school when you were... 13 or 14?

Well, I was home-schooled, so I went full time when I just turned 16, and I'll be graduating when I'm 18. Plus, my parents made me take a couple of classes part time when I was 15.

Thanks for the answers though. Does anybody know how hard the swimming part of the test is? I'm not a bad swimmer, but I can't go under water for very long at all...

Posted by: tazoez

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgs2ss

Well, I was home-schooled, so I went full time when I just turned 16, and I'll be graduating when I'm 18. Plus, my parents made me take a couple of classes part time when I was 15.

Does anyone else who has read this thread feel like they should be wearing the stupid helmet and walking into walls?

Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

Kuddos to your parents for home schooling you, if your too bored with school , you might consider a stint in the military....gives you a whole new perspective and veterans points!

Posted by: resqjyw0

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazoez

Does anyone else who has read this thread feel like they should be wearing the stupid helmet and walking into walls?

No. I feel like he should be researching a cure for cancer...or engineering some super neato and useful gadget. Possibly find alternative fuel sources.

Posted by: Killjoy

You have to be old enough to use a search engine and find the answer yourself, genius. No billet in CPAC for this kid!

Posted by: DodgeRam

Home schooled hua? Maybe you should get some more "real life" experience like making friends, or talking to girls (OFFLINE for BOTH)...

Posted by: chuckie99

mgs get your education while your still young. enjoy your youth. best wishes to you a congrats on your graduation!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgs2ss

I am just curious how old you have to be before you can work there full time. I'm 17 right now, and I'm trying to decide if I should just get my Bachelor's degree (which I'll be getting after the spring semester in a few months), or if I should go for my Master's degree, which would take until I am at least 20.

I have heard from some people that you need to be at least 21, so if that is true, it would make things a lot more simple for me.

If you do only have to be 18 would you suggest that I try to get a job, or go for my Master's?

Posted by: JMB1977

I think we have another doogie houser...just some advise - stay in college finish while your young. If your only 17 you have a long way to go.

Posted by: sgtsmithers

Home schooled for High School and, I'm guessing, online College. I don't think the MSP Academy is a good environment to hone your social skills. Were any of your HS teachers HOT?

Posted by: lawdog671

Go to school and get laid...you sound like you're way too smart to be a cop kid...

Were any of your HS teachers HOT?
Oh man you didn't go there.......

Posted by: semiunmarked

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgs2ss

Does anybody know how hard the swimming part of the test is? I'm not a bad swimmer, but I can't go under water for very long at all...

Work on your swimming skills and take a lifeguard course at the local

YMCA......SP Trainee's spend two days in a pool or lake (depending on

season) performing simulated rescues of drowning persons (aka DI's trying to drown you

) and you have to tread water for 15 minutes in full pack.

Posted by: WaterPistola

Quote:

Originally Posted by semiunmarked

) and you have to tread water for 15 minutes in full pack.

just break their nose if they try to take you down with them, that should go over well. haha

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterPistola

just break their nose if they try to take you down with them, that should go over well. haha

I hope that you don't interview with any of the members of MassCops
that read the threads.

Posted by: WaterPistola

i was actually referring to the scene in the movie "The Guardian" where they learn how to rescue drowning victims that drag them down. the rescuer breaks the instructors nose...that's all

Posted by: resqjyw0

I knew you were making that reference. That was a very good movie.

Posted by: snapbox

Get a masters in something not criminal justice related (or something that sets you apart from the crowd.... the brass love that) The problem is, it's not about age as it is about maturity level. It's up to your physocological exam and if you don't pass that because you're lacking maturity and real world experience, you won't get hired. (Even if you have a list of educational qualifications a mile long) Continue college, get a job, (doesn't matter what you do, as long as it's meaningful) show up on time, work hard, and stay committed to it.

By the time you're 23-24 you'll be a perfect candidate for any department.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterPistola

i was actually referring to the scene in the movie "The Guardian" where they learn how to rescue drowning victims that drag them down. the rescuer breaks the instructors nose...that's all

I knew the reference,but as a 22 year old looking for employment as a LEO
I would be a little more careful with what I posted on a police board, as I have
stated before there are members of MassCops who also sit on the interview
boards,do the bg,and training.If you don't belive me post that question in
Ask A Cop.

Posted by: WaterPistola

I believe you, I'm not here trying to stir the pot. I like coming to this site for information about the process, read what's going on with agencies, etc. I'll be careful with what i post in the future.

Posted by: msp428

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtsmithers

Home schooled for High School and, I'm guessing, online College. I don't think the MSP Academy is a good environment to hone your social skills. Were any of your HS teachers HOT?

not gonna lie I've got one

Posted by: Loyal

The minimum age may be 21, and certainly there are alot of mature 21 year olds, but does anyone else think that 21 is too young to be a full time police officer ? Think of life experience, seeing the big picture, maturity, empathy.... If you agree that the age should be raised, what would you suggest ? What about a lower age(but at least 21 yoa) for military veterans ?

Posted by: Q5-TPR

A couple of my classmates were 22 at graduation. They seem to be doing fine. Me on the other hand, well, I feel old........

Posted by: kttref

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal

What about a lower age(but at least 21 yoa) for military veterans ?

Yeah...I still disagree with any extra anything for being a military vet. And here is my reason: I know someone, who NEVER left his base...but was technically deployed while in basic and got military vet status now. I just don't agree with that. And why should my college degree mean so little? Just because I chose a different way of life? I've said it all before...I won't preach too much. I mean...I'm already on the job, what do I care...but I still think it's messed up.

Posted by: CTrain

I'm going to have to agree with kttref on this one. Well said

Posted by: Crvtte65

Just because they were in the military doesn't make them better:

Saw this on Gangland last night:

1st video: http://youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=usrRQcztC3o
2nd Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgBEvd4av-s&NR=1
ODMP: http://www.odmp.org/officer/17539-sergeant-howard-king-(howie)-stevenson

Adreas Raya, 19 year old US Lance Corporal Marine returned from Iraq and killed one cop and shot another. While he was over there, he continued to spray paint gang signs etc.

Just because someone was in the military doesn't make them prepared for anything. The same goes for college.

Edit: Wow this went on a tangent huh?

Posted by: badgebunny

.....

Posted by: Q5-TPR

Quote:

Originally Posted by kttref

Why should he get Vet status, well let me tell you why. Because he volunteered! He may not have been called to go overseas, but he would have, if called. Let me tell all of you who are not Veterans the following; for active duty Military members, we leave our home, families, parents, siblings, girlfriends, boyfriends, dogs, cats, whatever for at least 3 years. During that time we are subjected to sub-standard living conditions at best, the worst food you could think of, stress that is off the chart, meager wages, long hours that would make most people cringe, with the very good chance that someday you may have to go to some 3rd world country and kill or maybe worse, DIE for this great country of ours. As for Reservist/National Guard members, it is the same thing, only we put down what we are doing 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks every summer (while everyone else is on vacation drinking pina colatas) and we train in the same lovely conditions that our active duty counterparts enjoy. All with the very high chance we will be deployed to a lovely vacation spot (like the one I am currently in). And when said Reservist returns from doing violence on your behalf, it is then he/she will be called Veteran. Giving two points on the State Police test is the LEAST we can do for the people that protect our right to post WHATEVER we want on a website, hold a sign on the street, criticize our Government and my President, and generally do whatever the hell we want within the law. As far as your degree goes, I have nothing but praise for you. You spent 4 very difficult years studying, and testing, and getting smart. All that work will be rewarded when you get on the job in the form of the Quinn Bill, only no one was trying to KILL you when you got that degree. You may have had to live in a dorm room with a room mate. I am a fairly senior person in my unit and I live in a room with 2 other fairly senior people that is probably smaller that your dorm room. My troops have it even worse, as in 10 of them in a room about the size of 2 dorm rooms put together. And we have it pretty good where I am located. Try going to Falujia, Ramadi, Tajji, Bajji, Takrit, Sadr Ciry, ect. Conditions for those fine Americans are far worse. And let me tell you, Taegu, Korea, Camp Lejeune, NC, Camp Pendleton, Ca ain't much better. Until you lay down in your dorm room and have to worry about getting blown up in a mortar attack, then you can compare Veterans Status to a College Degree. Comparing what you went through to get your degree and what a person had to do to get their Veterans Status is not even close my friend. Sorry, got a little worked up there. Back to work for me, peace, I'm out!

Posted by: kwflatbed

OK we have had many discusions on this before and this is not going to turn into another war.

Thread Locked

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