For many of our military members, the decision to enlist was the result of the desire to serve our country. For them, there was no better career choice than to proudly volunteer their services for the better of their country until their retirement. Once they fulfill their military obligations and begin the process to civilian life, veterans are faced with many employment opportunities. Since the desire to continue to serve may still be strong, veterans should be aware of the multiple employment opportunities available through Public Safety Testing (PST).

PST assists in the hiring process for service agencies such as law enforcement, firefighting, as well as dispatch. PST offers the civil service testing that service agencies will eventually hire from for service careers. After successful testing, a candidate will then be placed on an eligibility list before continuing on with the hiring process through the various agency. "Right now, there are just so many openings that the start to finish process is only four or five months," said Pat Walters of Public Safety Testing. "It used to be much longer."

Any candidate that is interested in completing the placement test is encouraged to visit the PST website. There, candidates will find study materials available to purchase online. It is suggested that candidates give themselves two to four weeks of study time to prepare for the test. Even if a candidate does well on the initial test but perhaps wishes to do better in order to earn a better placement on the eligibility list, there is a 90-day wait period before they can test again. Same goes for any candidate who may not pass the test. They are welcome to study further and re-test in 90 days.

Walters finds that careers in law enforcement, firefighting and dispatch are often a perfect fit for veterans. "Veterans often find that the structure of the law enforcement is much like the military's rank and file, so they are very comfortable right away," she said. For many veterans, careers in service agencies are not about a paycheck at all. It is more about the service aspect itself and giving back to the communities they know and love. "Veterans truly love serving a community that has supported them throughout their military career," said Walters.

Candidates that are interested in pursuing a career in a service agency are encouraged to visit the PST website. On the website, candidates will find information on testing dates and facilities, study materials, test requirements, test pricing, as well as tips on attributes service industries look for. Candidates will also find information regarding wages and benefit information for all agencies. Walters wants candidates to know that testing is available several times a month and PST also offers out-of-state testing as well. Military servicemembers who may be in the process of transitioning out of active-duty may want to begin the testing process sooner rather than later, as the testing dates tend to book well in advance.

For more information on PST, test dates and requirements, please visit: publicsafetytesting.com.