Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class David Krigbaum | KADENA, Japan (July 18, 2022) Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Ryan Tottingham, from...... read more read more
by Lt. Maddie Stenzel
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Ryan Tottingham’s time in the military is
coming to an end, but he’s not done serving yet. Using the skills and
experience he picked up during his three-and-a-half years in the naval
service, and his military benefits, he’s returning home to Michigan to
pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer.
Tottingham is from Ortonville, Mich., and worked at a sheriff’s office
before joining the Navy. He always dreamed of being a police officer because of his “deep desire to help people” but he also wanted to serve the
military while still young enough to do so. That desire to serve his country
encouraged him to take a “leap of faith” and enlist. His participation in
the Sea Cadets, a Navy and Coast Guard-sponsored youth program, steered him toward the Navy.
He works as a master-at-arms, who are the Sailors responsible for law enforcement and security on military bases and ships. He credits his job
with improving his people skills and ability to clearly communicate with
others. His most recent posting was on Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan,
where he worked alongside the U.S. Air Force military police and with the
Japan National Police Agency. He believes that the challenges of this unique
law enforcement environment will prepare him well for a law enforcement
career in the United States. He said he values his experience in the Navy
because of the opportunities he had to interact with diverse communities and the chance to represent police officers in a positive, professional, and
courteous manner.
After returning to the United States, he will attend the Grand
Valley State University Basic Police Academy using the GI Bill, a military
educational benefit, to pay for this training. The GI Bill provides funding
for further education or training programs for eligible military members and
their families.
The GI Bill benefits will allow him increased flexibility after his graduation from the police academy because he will be “self-sponsoring” himself through the program. Rather than receiving tuition sponsorship from a police department, he will use his GI Bill funding, and will therefore be
able to choose which police departments to apply to after his graduation.
When asked for advice to fellow law enforcement hopefuls who may be
considering joining the military, Tottingham said that the master-at-arms
profession is a “great opportunity” and “an amazing stepping stone.”
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2022 01:08 |
| Story ID: | 426834 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | ORTONVILLE, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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