Armed Forces to Protect and Serve in NC
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North Carolina National Guard
Story by Sgt. Leticia Samuels

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signs House Bill 595 into law at the Capitol building in Raleigh, June 3, 2015. The new law recognizes experience as military police officers for the purpose of law enforcement certification and increases the size of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signs Representative Chris Whitmire's House Bill 595 into law, providing Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen with military police experience to transition into law enforcement, at the Capitol building here, June 3, 2015.

This act recognizes experience as military police officers for the purpose of law enforcement certification and also increases the size of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

"North Carolina is on its way to becoming the most veteran-friendly state in the nation," said McCrory.

Bill 595 allows fully qualified military police officers who have been honorably discharged from service to apply for this process and fall into one of two accelerated programs. In the first, the Commission requires applicants to complete its 96 hour Legal Unit, 24 hours of Civil Process, all background and psychological checks, and accomplish the state Basic Law Enforcement Test Evaluation. These requirements can be accomplished before employment or during a one year probationary certification.

Applicants will also have to have been awarded a military police occupational specialty rating and been fully qualified, performed a minimum of two years of military police duties within five years of application, meet all standards for law enforcement, and possess combined training and experience that meet or exceed expectations needed for employment as a law enforcement officer.

Service members who do not possess enough combined training and experience are required to complete a more extensive program to include all requirements deemed for members with experience and any supplementary high-liability training, as deemed necessary by the Commission, not to exceed 180 hours. Individuals in this category must complete these requirements first and are not eligible for the one year probationary period of employment.

The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission comprised of 31 members has increased to 34 members to include police chiefs, police and correctional officers and the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Commander of the State Highway Patrol along with various other North Carolina officials that aim to strengthen the state law enforcement workforce.

"This law will make it easier for our veterans to provide here in our local communities the same safety and security they proudly provided for our country," said McCrory.

NOTE: Special note of thanks to AFSFA member and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page for bringing the effort and results to light. Well done Sam!!

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