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Ask The Chief: Enlisting as a Reserve Master-At-Arms
- By Robert Wootton
- Published April 16, 2006
- Ask The Chief
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Robert Wootton
Chief Wootton has a long law enforcement and Military career dating back to the Marines in 1983. He has been a Security Duty Officer, Watch Commander, Adversarial Team Leader and Sniper. He was recently recalled under Operation Infinite Justice and Operations Enduring Freedom/Noble Eagle. Wootton also holds a Masters degree in Education, and has graduated from the Small Arms Instructor School, Military Police Investigator School, and Combat Skills Training School. Ask the chief a question: askthechief@navcops.com
View all articles by Robert WoottonQuestion:
Chief Wootton,
I am seriously considering going into the Navy Reserves Master-At-Arms. I am prior service military. Was on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 2/21/1996 to 1/09/2006. I separated as an E-5/SSgt with an honorable discharge. My Air Force Specialty Code was 3P071/Security Forces. In that time frame I was a Security Specialist, K-9 Handler, Law Enforcment Patrolman, Flight Chief, Pass & Registration NCOIC, and Installation Security/Anti-Terrorism/Crime Prevention NCOIC. I know I would need to talk to a recruiter about joining but I was wondering if you could please give me some insight on what it is like to b[e] a Navy Master-At-Arms in the Reserves? Also if you could tell me what the deployments are like for Reserve Master-At-Arms? I would appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Garry Graham
Answer:
Garry:
It is absolutely awesome to be a Navy Master-at-Arms. We are a true
brotherhood and we do so many different things that the job is never mundane.
You can be on the knife edge of the Global War on Terrorism or back home in the States out on patrol. There are numerous real world training courses you can attend and the chance to see the world from the sea or from the USN
point-of-view is unique.
You have a good chance of staying E-5 if you hurry and join us, but I cannot promise you that. We have some sweet signing bonuses right now, so I would hurry up. You will need a degree by 2010 to advance to Chief Petty Officer. As to deployments, I think you can plan on at least one or two 6-12 month deployments in your remaining career, but that can always change to none or more. I would venture to say that you might get one deployment in the GWOT. It all depends on the GWOT and where it is taking us, as we are at the leading edge of this fight. If it were still peacetime (pre-9/11), I would say you would not be deployed, but it is realistic to plan on at least one big one.
Hope this helps, pal!
Hoo-yah!
R/
MAC Rob Wootton
OPS Chief, NSF DET Athens