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Home |
KPD Contract! |
work on Kwaj! |
Marshallese |
TRUTH! |
Stories of KWAJ KPD |
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Of course as in any job you apply for, there is a process. The hiring process is rather easy. The applicant must meet certain minimum qualifications. As stated on Alutiiq’s web site. Alutiiq is the private company who bid on and won the contract to provide Security and Law Enforcement duties to U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, known as, USAKA. Minimum Qualifications: * U.S. Citizen. * Graduate of Military Police School (Any Branch) or, * Graduate of a Certified Police Academy. * Three (3) years of Law Enforcement Experience Police Academy (Military or Civilian) * Eligible for a SECRET Security Clearance. * Complete successfully a Pre-employment Physical Examination and Drug Screen. * Meet Department of Defense Height and Weight requirements. * Successfully complete a Physical Fitness Agility Test. * Willing to deploy unaccompanied for a minimum of one (1) year. These minimum qualifications are often overlooked so there is a chance you may get lucky and find yourself on a plane bound for Kwajalein after being offered a one year contract. One of my lieutenants didn’t meet these prerequisites and I didn’t either, but to name only two out of many throughout my four years and three months on contract. If you are worried about being able to obtain a SECRET Security Clearance - don’t! They are rather easy to obtain. Just fill out a Standard From 86 and turn it in with your application. I never had a SECRET Security Clearance all the way up until the last month of my employment! Yet I was doing the job of a police officer, Sergeant, who was required to have one. There were times I was in areas I shouldn’t have been without having a SECRET Security Clearance - how Alutiiq and KPD got away with this for so long I’ll never understand. I never took advantage of this though. The second I realized I was alone in a classified closed area I exited immediately. When responding to alarms at these places I always made sure someone with a clearance escorted me. But, "Island-Life" and "Island-time", as you will soon learn about and suffer the affects of should you deploy, seem to dictate complacency. I would be escorted by someone into a classified closed area only for this escort to disappear leaving me alone for minutes at a time. I was always amazed at how easy it was for me, a man without a SECRET Security Clearance, was able to get into classified closed areas. I voiced my concern on more than one occasion to others about this but, no one seemed to really care - I guess they trusted me. The entire hiring process can take up to four days or as long as four months. I was on a plane four days after submitting my resume. Not a single supporting document substantiating my resume was ever asked for. The biggest "hanger" as far as deploying quickly may be the SECRET Security Clearance Issue. All I can tell you is if you really want to work as a police officer with the Kwajalein Police Department and Alutiiq - fill out the SF86 and submit it ASAP. There is also a medical exam you must take at Alutiiq’s expense. Once you have been offered a contract and you accept it, you are issued an Electronic Airline ticket. You will fly to Honolulu, Hawaii, arriving at around 1200 (noon) and fly out to the Marshall Islands the next morning at about 0700 (7am). The company puts you up at a hotel in Honolulu. Too bad for you new hires, though! Used to be all new hires were put up in a VERY nice hotel right on the beach. Today I am hearing new hires are being sent to the Honolulu Airport Hotel. Not a big deal really - but DAMN that was one nice hotel I stayed at right there on the beach. Can’t say I like Hawaii though! Too many tourists with way too much money to spend - the entire place is too darn expensive for my blood. From Hawaii you have about a five hour flight heading southwest to the capital of the Marshall Islands - Majuro! You land on Majuro and have about an hour layover. Everyone must debark the plane while the crew conducts a security inspection. You are shuffled into a waiting area inside the main terminal building. It used to be there were no bathrooms or anything inside this waiting area - today though, there are bathrooms, a tiny bar and a makeshift gift shop selling humble, handmade Marshallese crafts. The first time I landed there I was stuck with my eyes floating. I had to wait an hour to get on the plane to use the bathroom. Majuro is an ok place. From my experience, though, those who had privileged lives, and are well to do, do not like Majuro. They complain about it being too dirty and primitive. I enjoyed it. The Marshallese people are a pleasure to be around. Once back on the plane and after take off you have an approximate 45 minute flight to Kwajalein. Upon landing on Kwajalein, known as Kwaj, everyone is herded into a rather comfortable and pleasant room with many photos and crafts from the history of the Marshall Islands. Everyone sits in a chair and is given a briefing by a police officer, the Entry and Exit (E&E) Sergeant. Just listen to his directions and you will be fine. Everyone debarking the plane must do this so you will be with families, soldiers and returning contractors. When you finish your paperwork you are told to get into a line where you are issued your ID. After that you are cleared to exit and retrieve your luggage. There you meet and are introduced into your training Sergeant. You are given a brief tour then issued your quarters. I’ll go into your housing on another page. The ID you were issued is also your meal card so it is up to you when you want to eat. Just like in the military, the chow hall is open three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. These are all buffet style meals and the quality of the food is quite good. Still though, you always have those who were born with diamond embedded, golden spoons up their sphincters who will find something to complain about. Click the below photo to learn more!  
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