Saving lives as the first call of response, protecting others from any type of threat or danger, and generally keeping the country safe are all incredibly important jobs.
You could be working on the frontline for one of the country’s emergency services, to serve and protect for the police, the prison and probation service, the fire service, the ambulance service, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army, the RAF, or UK Border Force.
It’s not for the faint hearted, but if you’ve got what it takes, our protective services study programmes will make a whole range of exciting and challenging careers available to you. Take a look below to find out more about the different career paths that you could take:
Army Officer
An officer in the Army commands, motivates and manages teams of soldiers.
You’ll need to have excellent leadership skills, come up with effective solutions to problems in stressful situations and have a determination to succeed.
There are hundreds of different roles as an officer in the Army. You could be working in combat, medicine and health, or with teams of engineers, military police or in intelligence.
You could work in a combat role as:
- an infantry platoon commander leading a team of trained soldiers on operations
- a helicopter pilot officer with responsibility for your crew and ground troops
- a tank troop officer in charge of men and their vehicles
- an artillery troop officer leading a team of soldiers
Security officer
Security officers are crucial in ensuring that buildings, valuables and people are safe and secure.
You’ll need to have a good knowledge of security and safety policies, excellent communication skills that are firm but fair, and also be very thorough and attentive.
Security officers work in a number of settings, including retail stores, nightclubs and large-scale events. On a daily basis, their jobs will include:
- patrolling premises and securing doors, windows and other entrances at important facilities
- responding to alarms
- guarding cash or other valuables in a security vehicle
- operating scanning equipment and devices at venues
Paramedic
Paramedics respond to emergency call-outs and give people life-saving medical support.
As a paramedic, you will need to have an in-depth knowledge about healthcare and medicine, be sensitive with your patients and work quickly in high pressure situations.
Paramedics are often the first on the scene of emergencies, so it is highly likely that you will travel around a lot on shift. Alternatively, you might be stationed for the day at sports matches or other high-profile events.
Your day-to-day jobs might include:
- responding to emergency calls
- working calmly and quickly to stabilise patients
- using a defibrillator to revive patients
- giving patients medicines and injections
Police officer
Police officers keep law and order, investigate crime, and support crime prevention.
To be a police officer, you will need good legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations, knowledge of public safety and security, and negotiation skills for keeping people safe.
A day as a police officer could include:
- Investigating crimes and offences
- interviewing suspects and making arrests
- advising the public on personal safety and crime prevention
Ready to start training for a career in the public services? Apply now using the button below!
