US Army Peace Officer Standards and Training
Office of Accreditation and Credentialing (OAC)
US Army Law Enforcement
US Army Criminal Investigation Command
US Army Corrections
Army Reciprocity
Civilian Police Officer’s Handbook
February 2021
This handbook contains information gathered from the 50 state law enforcement officer standards and training organizations. The US Army reciprocity standards for civilian police and corrections officers seeking reciprocity to enter US Army Military Police, US Army Criminal Investigation Division as Special Agents and US Army Corrections Officers, all of whom wishing to enter Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard service.
This handbook has been developed to provide information about the various governmental reciprocity regulations relating to the employment and training standards for criminal justice officers in the United States and the United States Army.
For more information about the civilian police officer and corrections officer reciprocity, please contact:
Army University, Total Force Integration Division
(913) 684-7478 or visit their website at https://armyuniversity.edu/
Air University
1-800-262-9140 or visit their website at https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Contact-Us/
Marine Corps University
https://www.usmcu.edu
This material is subject to the change based on agency-specific policies and guidance.
A special thanks to the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training for much of the state information used in the US Army Reciprocity Manual.
Background
The Office of Accreditations and Credentialing works to maintain public trust of law enforcement through professional accreditation, certification, commissioning, licensing and surveillance of training and standards of conduct. Excellence is recognized and accepted throughout the American community, and substandard performance is recognized quicker and rejected by the same community. The OAC’s mission is to research, design, develop, implement, manage and oversee professionalism programs for law enforcement and intelligence analysts. The OAC works as the DoD’s Peace Officers Standards and Training operational element that functions to develop standards of performance, behavior and knowledge for our police and corrections officers and build communities of partnership. Civilian personnel seeking a full-time or reserve law enforcement officer careers may use the reciprocity process to reduce their time in training while transitioning between law enforcement agencies. Whether an applicant’s military basic law enforcement training and experience is accepted as a substitute for Academy attendance is governed by policy and regulations of each State. Some state POST agencies have developed reciprocity policies and administrative rules to accept military training and allow qualified and experienced military police officers to challenge some or all portions of their basic training requirements. The US Army will endeavor to do the same, where lawfully permissible. This Military Police Reciprocity Manual is intended to be a resource to civilian law enforcement and corrections officers to aid in their employment interests. It is also a valuable recruiting tool for post-service law enforcement career-building. It is recommended that interested persons access the web page of the respective state to get additional information and guidance on waiver of training. It is recognized that the requirements of certification or reciprocity may change without notice, or there may be a change in agency telephone numbers.