Sheriff's Department joins Army program to fast track soldiers into law enforcement careers

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus signed an agreement with the U.S. Army on Thursday linking the organizations in a program meant to fast track soldiers into law enforcement careers upon the completion of their military service.

Following a signing ceremony in front of an audience of students at Rancho Cucamonga High School, the sheriff's department is now officially a partner in the Army's Partnership for Your Success , or PaYS, program. The event coincided with the high school's "Meet Your Army Career Fair."

Dicus, a veteran of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, said military service members bring invaluable life experience and diverse skill sets to the sheriff's department.

"The PaYS program will facilitate a seamless transition for soldiers into civilian roles within the sheriff's department," he said. "The PaYS program provides the sheriff's department with a pipeline of highly skilled, motivated candidates, addressing recruitment needs and ensuring a robust workforce."

The program includes guaranteed job interviews and other opportunities to learn skills to prepare veterans for their post-military employment, according to Discus.

"Partnering with the Army through the PaYS program is a win-win opportunity for the sheriff's department, as well as the Army," Dicus said. "Not only does it strengthen the department's workforce, but it also reinforces its commitment to supporting veterans and fostering community partnerships, and most importantly, supports and defends all Americans."

Lt. Col. Matthew Upperman, commanding officers of the U.S. Army's Southern California Recruiting Battalion, represented the Army at the ceremony.

He told the students that the mud-crawling, grenade-throwing depictions of Army life seen in Hollywood films provide "major misrepresentation of what a typical soldier does," he said.

"In fact, there's no such thing as a typical solder," he said.

A career in law enforcement is just one of countless possibilities for soldiers after they transition back into civilian life.

The Army has over 200 different jobs across nine different career pathways that span science and medicine; intelligence; IT and cyber; mechanics and engineering; support; logistics; leadership and tactical; aviation; and last but not least, legal and law enforcement, Upperman said.

"There are opportunities for you if you want to work in a hospital, or a lab, or jump out of an airplane, be a cyber expert, become a cultural expert and interact with individuals in their native tongues while serving in a foreign land or managing a logistics warehouse, among many, many other jobs," he added.

Through the PaYS program, the Army has partnerships with companies including Tesla, Amazon, Wells Fargo and Sony Interactive Entertainment, according to Upperman.

Sheriff's Sgt. Chase Ash, who deployed to Iraq with the Army from 2004 to 2005 and was awarded honors including a Silver Star for valor in combat operations and a Combat Infantryman Badge, has now served with the sheriff's department for 17 years.

He encouraged students, regardless of their career goals, to take advantage of programs and opportunities that can help them realize their dreams.

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"I don't how many of you guys actually plan to join the military or join law enforcement, but I would urge you, whatever you do, to take advantage of opportunities like this that are going to get you where you guys need to be," he said. "Accept all the help you can get. Make a plan and stick to that plan."

"Whatever you guys to, make sure you take steps toward where you're trying to get," Ash added. "Dreams without actions are just going to remain dreams, so make sure you guys follow a plan, and stick to it, and you can get where you guys need to go."

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Sheriff's Department joins Army program to fast track soldiers into law enforcement careers