From Service to Security:
Why Veterans Are an Ideal Fit for Corrections
Tyler Baird, Joe Fowler, and Jeff Jackson, CJM
There are several important topics that aren’t addressed enough in corrections. And unfortunately, those topics are the biggest reasons why turnover is at an all-time high. The discussion of being overworked and underpaid is swept under the rug. The dialogue for resources and budgets to help improve operations is ignored. And the declining mental health of officers is the heaviest, and most significant, topic that almost everyone turns a blind eye to.
Fortunately, in recent years, the industry has started to shine a little more light on this topic and implement more resources for officers to utilize. However, the topic of mental health is still used as a staple reason for whether potential job candidates would make for effective correctional officers or not. The most prominent group that is questioned for being fit for corrections is our very own veterans. But the truth is, there isn’t a better pool of men and women that are more prepared to work in the corrections field than veterans.
Veterans possess an array of unique skills when it comes to being suited for corrections work. From their structured backgrounds of discipline and leadership to their experiences with crisis management and security threat training, veterans acquire a distinctive set of skills that closely align with the high-stress environment of a correctional facility. Aside from recognizing the gravity of following protocol and maintaining order, many veterans own a deep sense of integrity and a strong sense of leadership that they gained during their service. Not everyone who applies to become a correctional officer already has these solid morals instilled into their professional experience. However, when veterans chose to be in the military, they actively chose to work in a field that is not about “me” and is more about “we.” These are the type of individuals that are needed to work in corrections not only because it’s a critical component of our justice system, but because it’s a field that requires officers with integrity to accept the responsibility of upholding the care, custody, and control of incarcerated individuals.
Cultivating Command and Guidance
Those who work inside of a jail or prison understand the pressures that come with the job and know that this field isn’t meant for everybody. Working within the walls is a challenging environment where strong discipline and leadership are paramount to ensure the safety of staff and inmates, as well as effective rehabilitation outcomes. Those who have served in the military endured extensive training in quick decision-making and adaptability in complex and rapidly changing environments. The hours upon hours spent in these training courses (and real-life experience) enables veterans to develop a leadership mentality and the ability to make strong executive decisions with little to no supervision or validation—they trust their gut. These skills are directly transferable to corrections as officers often need to make quick, crucial decisions during unexpected situations and be able to effectively communicate with the rest of the team.
Harnessing Expertise in High-Pressure Environments
“Crisis Management” is a familiar term to anyone working in corrections. It’s essential to have the necessary knowledge, leadership skills, and tools to control a high-pressure environment. Whether it be a riot, inmate attack, or medical emergency, officers need to know what steps to take in order to get the environment back under control as soon as possible. While most policies or procedures outline what action needs to take place in certain scenarios, just like in the military, it’s rare that issues actually go according to script in a corrections environment. In these situations, veterans were taught to improvise, use problem-solving skills, and be able to think about Plan B, C, D, and E in a split second. This is otherwise known as the part of the job description named “other duties as assigned.”
Experiencing a dangerous event, first-hand inside of a jail or prison, is almost impossible to comprehend before experiencing one, but there’s no better group of people who understand that feeling than veterans. Given that military experience often exposes veterans to challenging, high-pressure, and stressful events, veterans are trained to be highly skilled problem-solvers that can analyze complex situations and find effective solutions. In emergency situations, veterans’ ability to make swift, well-informed decisions can be the difference between life and death. This is a highly proficient skill that every correctional leader needs. As they are adept at working with diverse teams from various backgrounds, have the ability to effectively address challenges, and can implement innovative approaches, veterans’ backgrounds of discipline and leadership experience prove invaluable in ensuring the safety and security of both staff and inmates alike.
Prioritizing Physical Fitness and Mental Strength
Beyond the discipline and leadership skills that can translate into corrections, veterans also recognize that completing their duties is easier accomplished when they’re in good shape–physically and mentally. After spending months, if not years, training for long shifts with little to no breaks and working over 40 hours a week with physical altercations of all kinds, many veterans are very familiar with maintaining a high level of physical fitness to enhance their ability to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. And while staying physically fit can naturally help release endorphins, reduce stress, and increase levels of energy and focus, there’s no amount of
training or working out that “perfects” mental health or surpasses the importance of mental fitness. Strong physical and mental health are both equal priorities when serving the country, as well as serving the line.
“When a person is physically and mentally strong, others see it. Both staff and inmates alike. Part of inmate manipulation begins with inmates identifying a staff member who appears to have weak physical and mental fitness, making them a target to easily manipulate. However, when staff are physically and mentally fit, the confidence and trust amongst team members grows considerably as they have faith that if they get in a bind and need backup to come and render assistance, their team is prepared and ready.”
—Joe Fowler 28 years corrections experience & 22 years military experience
Battling Hardships Bring Unique Perspectives
It’s no secret that military life can inevitably bring hardships. From the physical demands and separation from loved ones to limited personal freedom and heightened exposure to dangerous environments, veterans understand every sense of the word “hardship.” Despite the difficulty, experiencing such hardships allows veterans to bring a unique perspective to the corrections table. They understand, more than anybody, the mental health impacts that occur once coming back home. Whether it’s as critical as battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or as universal as trying to fit back into “normal” family life, veterans can relate to the feelings of isolation and exhaustion that correctional officers feel after coming home from a shift. While these pre-existing hardships that veterans may face could present unique triggers and challenges in a correctional environment, it does not outweigh the advantages of hiring someone who has the experience and understanding of working in a familiar territory. Veterans can bring a type of perspective that allows them to connect with other staff on a deeper level, facilitating effective communication and support.
Bonds Beyond Blood
Serving the country is one of the highest callings a citizen can do in their lifetime, and it’s something a tiny percentage actually get to do. Those who do are selflessly serving something other than themselves. They learn to depend on others all while learning to think and act independently on their own. Just like most corrections officers, those who served missed birthdays, holidays, weddings, and just about any other massive event their loved ones experienced back home.
Military members quickly become family. They eat, sleep, bleed, and sweat together, sometimes all in the same day. There are such strong bonds built between brothers and sisters in arms that even when their service comes to an end, they still feel the pull to continue serving in some way.
“I remember some of the fondest times I ever had serving were often in terrible places, in terrible conditions, and in terrible situations. But we were there together “embracing the suck” usually with a big smile on our faces. I have those same memories from my time spent inside the walls of working in jail as I had spent overseas in Iraq. Going to get breakfast with some of the shift after a rough 14-hour tour, I will bet that everyone has a smile on their face. They are happy everyone made it home safe, and even happier to do it all over again the next shift. Everyone says it’s a selfless job to serve, but the truth is, to me, it was also selfish. I needed to have others depend on me and me on them in kind.”
—Jeff Jackson 11 years of corrections experience & 12 years US Army, Infantry
This is why veterans have historically “clicked” once they start working in corrections. Their background of discipline and leadership, experience with crisis management and overcoming hardships, along with their solidly instilled morals all contribute to the distinctive set of skills that are required to be successful inside the walls of any corrections environment. Recognizing the immense value of veterans in corrections is not only a testament to their service but is a strategic investment in the betterment of our communities.
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Tyler Baird is a Trainer at GUARDIAN RFID with ten years of corrections experience and ten years of military experience. For more information, he can be contacted attyler.baird@guardianrfid.com.
Joe Fowler is a Strategic Account Executive at GUARDIAN RFID with twenty-eight years of corrections experience and twenty-two years of military experience. For more information, he can be contacted at joe.fowler@guardianrfid.com.
Jeff “Trip” Jackson, CJM is a veteran of the U.S. Army with twelve years of military experience as well as a veteran of corrections after serving eleven years. He is a Jail Operations Specialist at GUARDIAN RFID. For more information, he can be contacted at jeff.jackson@guardianrfid.com.