If you want to continue serving your country after transitioning from active duty, Department of the Army at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, has a mission for you.
JBM-HH Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) is sponsoring a veteran-specific (non-veterans are also invited -- see Non-Veterans below) job fair Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Chapel Fellowship Hall, Fort Myer. The job for hire: Department of Army Security Guard
JBM-HH and Arlington National Cemetery Police Chief William R. Johnson II, a 10-year veteran of the force, said the joint base, made up of Fort Myer and Henderson Hall in Virginia, and Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., is not like most military installations.
The DES mission includes Arlington National Cemetery -- this is one of four sites Security Guards are assigned. The DES jurisdiction boundaries include the cemetery, Fort Myer and Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., and the Armed Forces Retirement Home in the District.
"We're at the center of the National Capital Region and provide support to kings, presidents and everyone in between and outside of these parameters," Johnson said.
"No other police station gets the exposure our police officers and guards get. We're always looking for new, bright members of the team with fresh ideas, positive energy and always up for the challenges of a new day.
"We need men and women who take pride in doing this job on a day to day basis."
Security is the first of four fields under Career Path 19 or CP-19, and includes police, physical security and anti-terrorism, so there is room to grow said Lt. Laura A. Moore, DES training chief.
"We hope people will stay here at JBM-HH and move up through CP-19," she said, "but that isn't always the case. We expect people to grow and seek better opportunities -- sometimes that's here, sometimes it's somewhere else."
Department of Army Security Guard benefits include health and life insurance options with a substantial employer contribution to premiums, a retirement program with matching employer contribution, paid holidays, sick leave and vacation time along with bonuses, incentives and awards for outstanding on-the-job performance.
Moore said the training opportunities for DA Security Guards are also long-lasting tangible benefits: They can travel with you to other jobs.
"Our training is comparable to any training out there. It helps that we are a para-military organization," she said, "that we follow Army regulations, especially AR 190-56." This Army regulation is the Army Civilian Police and Security Guard Program.
"We work hand in hand with military police, especially the 289th MPs, The Old Guard, we do joint training with local municipalities -- DC Metro, Arlington and Alexandria, Fairfax, the Pentagon Police -- you name it, we work together to get the best training for all of us.
"There is a five-week academy which we all pitch in to resource: Funding comes from Army and Marines, Fort Belvoir and the National Guard Bureau.
"We say our DA Security Guards are the first line of defense," said Moore. "In this field, proper training is the name of the game."
One of those DA Security Guards is Sgt. Lanessa D. Ferguson, an Army veteran who has worked at JBM-HH for two-and-a-half years.
"It makes me feel proud that the safety of everyone on the installation is dependent on me, for one. We are the first contact when someone comes on base. If someone wants to harm anyone on base, they have to come through me first!" she said, mocking herself half-jokingly.
But she is very serious. "I am trained to make sure no one gets to you. We're trained before we go to work, then we have quarterly in-service training and special training opportunities when they come up."
Ferguson said she has come into contact with irate people. "Sure, some folks are annoyed when they go through the access process or are told they have to wait on a procedure.
"But, I don't know what kind of trouble that person has been going through that day, so I remind myself not to take it personally. I -- we all -- do our jobs to the best of our ability.
Ferguson was promoted to sergeant in August; she is a grandmother of three who loves to learn; and she is finishing up her second bachelor's degree, has a master's degree in project management; and figures she'll start on a doctorate in December.
Moore said for the job fair, veterans will be evaluated on the spot and that could lead to a tentative job offer.
Non-Veterans
Civilians are welcome to attend the job fair. For civilians, a USA Jobs position description will be posted on line in the GS-0085 job series. The job will be "Security Guard" under Fort Myer, Va. The actual job listing will be posted on the Directorate of Emergency Services Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JBMHHPoliceDepartment and on the JBM-HH Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jbmhh closer to the time of the job fair.
Bring with you a current resume, your DD 214, VA letter for 30 percent or more, a copy of your birth certificate and a government-issued identification (driver's license will do).
For more information, call 703-703-795-6070 or 703-328-3847 or email USARMY.JBM-HH.asa.mbx.DES-Police-Recruiting@mail.mil.
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