APD Recruiting - Military

We at the Austin Police Department appreciate the service performed by members of the United States military. Many of our police officers are former servicemen and women of the Armed Forces, and some still serve in the Military Reserves. In addition to retirement and G.I. Bill benefits, APD provides 15 paid days of Military Leave annually to reservists and guardsmen to perform military duties. 

If you are currently deployed outside of the United States and do not have access to all of the required documents to complete your application, please attempt to have a friend or family member assist you by gathering the information for you from home. All applications must be submitted online. 

Have questions? Several of our recruiters are military veterans and would love to talk to you. Give us a call at (512) 974-4211 or email us at APDRecruiting@austintexas.gov. Thank you for your service!

The Austin Police Department Training Academy is certified for full-time Veteran’s Administration Education Benefits. A cadet enrolled in the APD Training Academy with previous military time may be eligible to receive VA benefits for the entire 8 months they are in the academy and up to 15 months after graduation for the required probationary period as a patrol officer. Eligible Educational Benefit Programs include Montgomery G.I. Bill Active Duty Chapter 30; Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Chapter 33; Montgomery G.I. Bill Selected Reservist 1606; Reserve Educational Assistance Program 1607 or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Increased Educational Benefit Chapter 35.

Montgomery G.I. Bill Active Duty Benefits 

• For the Ch. 30 Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits $2,150 is paid to the veteran each month throughout the 8 months of the police academy as a cadet.
• During the 15 month probationary period following graduation the veteran patrol officer will receive $1,612.50 the 1st six (6) months. The amount will decrease down to 55% ($1182.50); the 2nd six (6) months, and then down to 35% ($752.50) for the final three (3) months.

Ch. 33 Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Benefits

• For the Ch. 33-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits a Basic Allowance for Housing is paid each month throughout the 8 months of the academy. The current BAH rate for the 2021-2022 school year is $2,028.00. 
• The veteran will also receive a books and supplies stipend in the amount of $1,000 throughout the academy and the time on patrol until the total amount has been fully paid for the year.
• During the 15 month probationary period following graduation, the veteran patrol officer will receive the same amount given in the academy for the Basic Allowance for Housing for the 1st six (6) months but thereafter the amount will decrease by 20% every six (6) months.
• Ch. 33-Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefit pay rates are determined by service time and may continue to be paid throughout the academy and during the time on patrol.
• Once a veteran/cadet graduates from the academy and is in On-The-Job training the veteran/patrol officer during the 15 month OJT period will receive the same amount given in the academy for the Basic Allowance for Housing for the first six months, but thereafter the amount will decrease by 20% every six months.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

For additional information, contact the Austin Police Department's VA School Certifying Officials, Patrick Stewart at patrick.stewart2@austintexas.gov or Zeenat Kwon at zeenat.kwon@austintexas.gov.

Military personnel are eligible to purchase an additional 2 years into the retirement system. This purchase does not count toward the required 25 years of service, but will be added to your multiplier for pension purposes. Formula and example are below:

Formula: [Years of Service] x [2.5% multiplier] = Percentage of Base Salary

For example, an officer who works 27 years (or 25 years plus 2 military purchased) will earn 67.5% his/her base salary.

Active Duty and Military Reserves

Military personnel and veterans who have, or are anticipated to have, an honorable discharge are eligible and encouraged to apply. General discharge and uncharacterized discharge are also accepted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Applicants who are currently in the military must provide a letter from their Commanding Officer stating the expected discharge status and date.

Active status military personnel can apply as long as they are available when the cadet class is scheduled to begin.

Applicants who are discharged must submit their DD-214 (Member 4 copy) for discharge status verification.

Applicants in the Military Reserves should advise their command of the police academy training schedule and attempt to work out a schedule that will allow regular attendance of the academy. Remember, the regular police academy is approximately 8 months long. 

Disqualifiers

Military applicants having been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions will be disqualified. These include:

Applicants who have received a general discharge under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized discharge will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

• Under other than honorable conditions
• Bad conduct
• Dishonorable
• Any other characterization of service indicating bad behavior

In 2013 I left active duty after almost 8 years of service in the Army and headed to Austin to pursue my dream of becoming a police officer. I wasn't sure how the transition from military service to police work would unfold but what I found and experienced was so much better than what I was expecting. Not only was I able to use my 9/11 GI Bill to assist financially during the police academy, but the department provided a designated point of contact to assist with all the paperwork from the beginning of the academy until the completion of my FTO period.

Following the academy and being commissioned as a police officer, I decided to continue serving my country and the great state of Texas through the Texas Army National Guard. Once again, I felt apprehensive as to how the two obligations would work together and again I was impressed by the support I received from the department. My chain of command was nothing but supportive and worked to reduce any conflicts in scheduling. I also received 15 days of Military Leave every year throughout my service.

In 2016 I was called back to active duty service with the Texas Army National Guard to deploy to Afghanistan. The department again supported me. APD Human Resources and Training Academy staff ensured that I was taken care of from the time before I left to my return on the streets a year later. Even though I decided to leave military service in October 2018 to focus on my family and police work, I am proud of how the department worked with me and continues to support me as well as my fellow veterans.

-Senior Police Officer Benjamin Hart, 13 year Military Veteran