Photo By Maj. Alun Thomas | Ashley Street, security officer with Security Services, a non-sworn position with the...... read more read more
GLENDALE, Ariz – The road to a career in law enforcement has been a mammoth journey for Ashley Street, almost a decade in the making.
Where the path once seemed dim, it’s now incredibly brighter - all thanks to the U.S. Army and the Partnership for Youth Success program, which have combined to help Street pursue her dream of becoming a police officer.
Street, a native of Glendale, Arizona, currently works as a security officer with Security Services, a non-sworn position with the Glendale Police Department, a role she sees as a stepping stone to an eventual spot with the police itself.
It’s something she’s aspired to upon graduating high school and entering college, where she pursued a degree in criminal justice.
“I started at Arizona State University and became interested in criminal justice and law enforcement through a friend who was taking courses in that field,” Street said. “I was working in a completely different field and once I started helping her with criminal justice studies I changed fields immediately.”
Luckily her friend’s father was a lieutenant in the local police department and he invited Street for a ride along, which solidified her desire to serve in law enforcement.
“I was hooked instantly and immersed myself in criminal justice studies,” Street said. “Once I graduated with my degree I applied to several police departments where I did well in the hiring process.”
Unfortunately Street was deemed to be lacking in leadership skills by the departments, which she said was due to fierce competition from those with a military background.
“I was up against a lot of Soldiers and military professionals that were coming off active duty and had skills that transitioned well to law enforcement,” she continued. “My degree was great, but not comparable to leadership skills and attaining characteristics necessary for the police.”
“I just didn’t have the total package,” Street said.
With a student loan debt and burgeoning responsibilities, Street saw an advert for the U.S. Army and took the plunge by visiting a recruiter in Glendale to enlist.
“My recruiter told me about the loan repayment program, which I jumped all over,” Street explained. “I signed a contract to become an Internment/Resettlement Specialist, which is basically a corrections officer in the Military Police corps.”
The recruiter then asked Street if she wanted to be placed on the PaYS program, which ensures Soldiers are guaranteed a job interview with a PaYS partner of their choice after completing their Army Reserve training or first term of service.
The program provides employers with a pool of highly skilled, motivated and professional candidates from which they can fill their personnel needs.
Street accepted readily, realizing it would be a helpful transitional tool when she eventually left active duty.
“I knew it would get me an interview with various organizations I was interested in,” she said. “I had very specific goals - get my degree, obtain leadership skills, get my loans paid off and come out and apply for law enforcement.”
Street has fond memories of her recruiter, who she said helped her find a new direction in life.
“I had a really great recruiter who kept in touch with me, even after I joined the Army,” Street said. “When I was working in Guantanamo Bay he wrote a letter checking up on me, which was 2 and a half years after I enlisted.”
“He made it a really smooth, easy transition and he got me shipped out to basic training just two weeks after I signed up,” Street recalls.
Street ended up doing two terms and served five years on active duty, in locations such as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before leaving for civilian life once again.
Once out Street used her Post 9-11 GI Bill and earned a master’s degree, while also accepting her current position in security, which is earning her a fast track to her goal of working as a police officer.
Street said none of it would have been possible without the U.S. Army, which gave her all the tools necessary to succeed as a leader and noncommissioned officer.
“I love, love the United States Army,” Street said with a smile. “Without it I wouldn’t have the passion in civilian life I do now. I missed it so much I joined the Army Reserve to get back in.”
“The leadership skills, the interpersonal communication skills … I would never have been able to sit here and talk about this without the confidence the Army gave me,” Street continued. “The Army’s provided all this for me and I’ve had great leadership to help me along the way."
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2017 19:14 |
| Story ID: | 223903 |
| Location: | GLENDALE, AZ, US |
| Hometown: | GLENDALE, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 505 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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