DoD Skillbridge - Recruit

DoD Skillbridge - Recruit Program

The purpose of the DoD Skillbridge - Recruit program with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office is to provide an opportunity for transitioning military members into the civilian workforce into a certified Law Enforcement career field. The Recruit will participate in the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Training Academy in order to gain the required education, training, and testing to become a certified Florida Law Enforcement officer. This advertisement is ONLY for CURRENT US Military members seeking employment through the DoD Skillbridge program in a Law Enforcement capacity in their transition out of the military.

This advertisement is to recruit for our October 2026 ECSO LE Training Academy. Official start date of program will be October 19, 2026, lasting 175 days. This is a non-negotiable start date.

If the member is approved for less than 175 days, the ECSO is willing and able to work with the member, under the proviso that official employment may not be offered until completion of the ECSO LE Training Academy and passing of the Florida State Officer Certification Exam, as long as the member can begin the program on the above mentioned, non-negotiable, start date.

While in the recruit status, the service member participates and engages in formal in-house training and work activities specifically designed and chosen to train and indoctrinate the individual in the field of law enforcement. Work is performed under the immediate supervision and guidance of a higher-level officer or instructor.

Examples of Duties

Attends classes, lectures, demonstrations, and exercises. Trains on-the-job performing routine work assignments in the functional area for which training is prescribed. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level in classroom setting.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE DoD SKILLBRIDGE PROGRAM, IF OFFERED OFFICIAL CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES LISTED BELOW WILL BE REQUIRED ONCE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY IS COMPLETED AND STATE CERTIFICATION IS ACHIEVED:

• Responds to calls for service or complaints from citizens.
• Patrols an assigned area to enforce local, State, and Federal laws, including applicable traffic laws and related traffic control activities.
• Participates in investigating crimes, which includes collecting and preserving evidence, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and securing crime scenes.
• Prepares detailed and accurate reports, records, statistics, and/or logs on daily activities.
• Renders emergency assistance at accidents and/or catastrophic situations.
• Serves civil and criminal warrants and/or other legal processes utilizing established rules of civil process; apprehends criminals and makes arrests.
• Transports suspects and/or applicable individuals to appropriate facilities and/or locations.
• Attends court to testify in trials and/or participates in depositions.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
• Positions assigned to Investigations may be responsible for:
• Investigating crimes and preparing appropriate referrals for prosecution.
• Assisting other law enforcement agencies with investigations through active physical work and/or research and documentation of private and/or public records.
• Informing and educating the public on the awareness of criminal activity and ways to prevent such activity.
• Attending autopsies.
• Developing, managing, and maintaining confidential informants.
• Performing physical and electronic surveillance.
• Maintaining unit equipment and vehicles.
• Participating in tactical planning for unit operations.
• Completing background checks on potential employees.
• Positions assigned to Court Security may be responsible for:
• Conducting and documenting security inspections prior to court sessions.
• Assisting in moving inmates and detainees.
• Collecting fingerprints and DNA samples of individuals convicted of crimes.
• Assisting individuals and the general public entering the judicial center.

Typical Qualifications

All applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered minimally qualified for the job:

• Be a transitioning military member in his/her last 180 days of military service
• Be 21 years of age or older (at the time of employment)
• Be a United States Citizen
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.)
• Possess a valid driver's license at the time of application and meet the driving history requirements
• Must have had no illegal drug use within the past six (6) months
• Must pass a polygraph, background investigation, drug screen, medical evaluation, and have a psychological evaluation
• Licensing Requirements:
• CJSTC certification after completion of Florida LE Academy course
• FDLE certification after completion of Florida LE Academy course
• Valid driver's license at time of employment
• Physical Agility Test requirements:
• You will be required to take and pass a Physical Agility Test (P.A.T.) at the beginning of the pre-employment process in order to proceed.
• The P.A.T. is conducted in a time-dependent, continuous flow manner.
• The P.A.T. determines the participants level of physical condition and aerobic capacity.
• This course must be completed in under 6 minutes and 4 seconds (6:04).
• The tasks associated with this test measure specific physical abilities which include:
• Exiting a vehicle/opening a trunk
• Running 220 yards
• Completing an obstacle course
• Dragging a 150-pound dummy
• Completing the obstacle course a second time
• Running 220 yards
• Dry firing a weapon six (6) time with each hand
• Placing items in and closing trunk/entering a vehicle
• Knowledge:
• Basic investigative techniques and procedures
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes
• Rules of civil process and related statutes
• CPR
• Firearms operations
• Record keeping procedures
• Skills:
• Charging suspects with violations
• Interviewing witnesses and suspects
• Tracking chain of custody related to evidence
• Maintaining records and logs
• Serving civil processes
• Utilizing firearms
• Preparing and maintaining activity reports, logs, and related documentation
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Supplemental Information

Positions in this class typically require: Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, intense noises and travel.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department