State Representatives Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) and Heath Clark (R-Warner Robins), along with State Senators Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) and Larry Walker (R-Perry), announced that the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council in coordination with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center will provide an expedited process for military personnel seeking employment as peace officers or criminal justice professionals in Georgia.

The Georgia POST Council will allow all U.S. Military Police and Security Forces personnel  with Criminal Investigation Command training to take the Equivalency of Training exam at no cost. Military personnel must pass the EOT exam with a score of 70 percent or higher in order to be eligible to complete 80 hours of training in high liability areas and in Georgia criminal law and procedures at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. The standard program length is 11 weeks, or 408 hours. Upon successful completion of this training, military personnel will become POST Certified officers qualified to work for Georgia’s law enforcement agencies. The Georgia POST Council and the GPSTC will modify their testing and training procedures with a focus on transitioning military members to serve in law enforcement agencies.            

“Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Georgia POST Council, state legislators and local leadership, military personnel pursuing a career in law enforcement in our state will have the opportunity to become officers more quickly and efficiently,” said Rep. Blackmon. “As a member of the House Military Affairs Working Group, I’m proud to support pro-military initiatives that benefit our veterans, active-duty soldiers and our state. I’m grateful to the Georgia POST Council for implementing this workable solution to a real issue.”

“As a state representative, improving the lives of our state’s military personnel is one of my top legislative priorities, and I believe that this update to the certification requirements will greatly benefit Georgia’s soldiers and veterans,” said Rep. Clark. “This change to the POST certification process will allow members of the military to receive credit for their completed military training and experience and allow them to focus on particular areas of need throughout their shortened training. This logical improvement will encourage military personnel to stay in Georgia and become law enforcement officers. Rep. Blackmon and I are appreciative of Warner Robins City Councilman Shaheen’s work to bring people together to address this problem.”           

“Granting our military police and security forces personnel that are serving in the National Guard or in an active duty capacity in the US Military who are transitioning to the private sector the opportunity to gain training leading to Georgia POST certification in a streamlined manner at no cost is a win-win for both our military personnel and the law enforcement community,” said Sen. Harper. “I want to thank P.O.S.T. Executive Director Ken Vance and GPSTC Executive Director Chris Wigginton for their outstanding leadership, dedication, and efforts that made this a reality, as well as my fellow legislators who helped find the best solution for all involved.”

“We pride ourselves in Middle Georgia for our support of the military and law enforcement,” said Sen. Walker. “So, Councilman Shaheen’s request that Georgia allow credit for military police training when a veteran MP pursues a career in civilian law enforcement made sense to me. With the leadership of Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Tyler Harper, the help of Rep. Clark, Rep. Blackmon and the Georgia POST Council, I’m pleased that the POST requirements for military police veterans have been streamlined. This will encourage veterans to make their second career here in Georgia and provide experienced applicants for local and state law enforcement.”