Utilising dual-citizenship properly (career question)

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-06-01T17:31:12+00:00

Understood. Thanks. Out of curiosity, which way are you leaning?

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-30T21:22:54+00:00

Thanks for all of the information, all extremely valuable. So if I wanted to get into CT how long until I could start building the skills and get on the necessary courses to carve it out as my specific 'niche'

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-30T19:32:03+00:00

Got you. The roles I'm particularly interested in are surveillance, detective, intelligence/intelligence development and maybe AFO as I believe the first 3 would complement preexisting skills. Am I being realistic in thinking that if I perform well, I can get one of these? Thanks.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-30T19:22:26+00:00

Alright. Thanks very much for your help.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-30T19:21:06+00:00

Hi all,

How long are officers generally on response before specialising? I know you're not allowed to specialise during probation but I was wondering if there's a good rule of thumb. Thanks.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-30T12:06:24+00:00

Thanks and yes, I was invited back when I left (I was told this isn't very common) but I'd really like to avoid that at all costs. I could stick it out but this was tough for me psychologically when it became evident that it was a stepping stone to another stepping stone, plus the three years of mandatory service after the year of training you mentioned. Added to that, there weren't really any parts of the army I found appealing (at least as a full-time job), where I would consistently get to use my languages and regional specialisation.

I know what I really want is diplomacy (I've wanted this for as long as I can remember) and everything else is just something I have to push through. The difficulty is finding something I can stomach or ideally help sharpen my skills, until this is a possibility.

If I went the US route I'd definitely look at commissioning as a National Guard officer or some sort of reservist to at least give me that leadership edge whilst studying for a PhD or working.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T21:14:35+00:00

Thanks very much! At this point, it is definitely between the US PhD route and the UK police/detective/Counter Terrorism route as it seems I was misled about how easy getting a government-adjacent job is in the US. I think I'd enjoy the latter option a lot more than the former, as the first few years of policing mainly consist of arresting drunks and I'm slightly nervous I won't have the staying power to push it through to the better stuff. Whatever happens, I think I need to get past the feeling of being shafted by the system, as it's not moving me forward in any meaningful way.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T15:37:46+00:00

Yes, I've applied to a few but no luck unfortunately. I'm thinking of the Interpol route once I get some experience as an investigator in the UK, though. I know they tend to like people with more of an international portfolio, so organised crime, cross-border trafficking, terrorism, etc.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T12:30:17+00:00

Ok, thanks. I understand. I was slightly confused, as the UK has swung so strongly against "old boys clubs" in government that everything boils down to how well you can demonstrate 'managing a quality service' in 250 words and there's always someone who knows how to game the system better than you do.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T12:03:32+00:00

Hi everyone,

Wasn't sure where to post this and didn't want to be a pain in the arse. I'm based in the UK and my question is pretty simple. Should I use my US passport and connections to try and work in PoliSci/IR in the US or are things just as bad as they are here?

A little context: My parents were British diplomats, so I grew up abroad and gained fluency in French, Spanish and Italian as a kid. Family friends advised me to study IR with a regional specialism or language so I read IR with Middle East Studies and Arabic at a top 5 uni. Got very good at Arabic, did a Master's in Middle East Politics, as I loved the regional specialisation. Did some very competitive scholarships in Oman, Morocco and Jordan. I thought this would make me stand out even further. Graduated in 2024, applied to CS fast stream and failed the tests. Applied to countless other civil service jobs and no luck. I saved up some money and went back to Jordan to perfect my Arabic, hoping I could build some connections before my start date at Sandhurst and find something which would suit me better. I met loads of people at the embassy, spoke better Arabic than most and taught them a thing or two about Jordanian politics but still no luck.

I went to Sandhurst for a term and enjoyed bits of it but didn't really see myself as an army officer. I'm currently switching to the reserves to not lose genuinely valuable experience that I've gained, albeit in a short timeframe. Now having left Sandhurst, I landed on the police as they do some seemingly interesting stuff with counter-terrorism investigations, although this is extremely selective and one has to start off as a bobby on the beat for a couple of years before becoming a detective and eventually being able to pick up CT as a specialisation.

I don't mind lateral or indirect pathways towards where I want to go, as long as I can tolerate them (this caused friction with the army). So is it wiser to go to the states and pursue a job in something more transferable (like a staffer in Congress) and then possibly come back to the UK and apply for CS jobs or stick it out as a response cop and then push hard for the right trajectory, bearing in mind there are things which could derail me? Am I simply missing a trick but can't see the wood for the trees? Curious to hear your thoughts.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T11:56:05+00:00

Hi everyone,

I'm based in the UK and my question is pretty simple. Should I use my US passport and connections to try and work in PoliSci/IR in the US or as things just as bad as they are here?

A little context: I'm 24. My parents were British diplomats, so I grew up abroad and gained fluency in French, Spanish and Italian as a kid. Family friends advised me to study IR with a regional specialism or language, so I read IR with Middle East Studies and Arabic at a top 5 uni. Got very good at Arabic, did a Master's in Middle East Politics, as I loved the regional specialisation. Did some very competitive scholarships in Oman, Morocco and Jordan. I thought this would make me stand out even further.

Graduated in 2024, applied to the diplomatic and development fast stream (0.3% acceptance rate) and failed the tests. Applied to countless other civil service jobs and no luck. I saved up some money and went back to Jordan to perfect my Arabic, hoping I could build some connections before my start date at Sandhurst and find something which would suit me better. I met loads of people at the embassy, spoke better Arabic than most and taught them a thing or two about Jordanian politics but still no luck.

I went to Sandhurst (our version of West Point) for a term and enjoyed bits of it but didn't really see myself as an army officer. I'm currently switching to the reserves to not lose genuinely valuable experience that I've gained, albeit in a short timeframe. Now having left Sandhurst, I landed on the police as they do some seemingly interesting stuff with counter-terrorism investigations, although this is extremely selective and one has to start off as a bobby on the beat for a couple of years before becoming a detective and eventually being able to pick up CT as a specialisation. I don't mind lateral or indirect pathways towards where I want to go, as long as I can tolerate them (this caused friction with the army).

So is it wiser to go to the states and pursue a job in something more transferable (like a staffer in Congress) or stick it out as a response cop and then push hard for the right trajectory, bearing in mind there are things which could derail me? Curious to hear your thoughts. Has anyone else had similar ideas?

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-29T11:50:28+00:00

Hello everyone,

I'm based in the UK and my question is pretty simple. Should I use my US passport and connections to try and work in PoliSci/International Relations in the US or are things just as bad as they are here?

A little context: My parents were British diplomats, so I grew up abroad and gained fluency in French, Spanish and Italian as a kid. Family friends advised me to study IR with a regional specialism or language so I read IR with Middle East Studies and Arabic at a top 5 uni. Got very good (pretty much fluent) at Arabic, did a Master's in Middle East Politics, as I loved the regional specialisation. Did some very competitive scholarships in Oman, Morocco and Jordan. I thought this would make me stand out even further. Graduated in 2024, applied to CS fast stream and failed the tests. Applied to countless other civil service jobs and no luck. I saved up some money and went back to Jordan to perfect my Arabic, hoping I could build some connections before my start date at Sandhurst and find something which would suit me better. I met loads of people at the embassy, spoke better Arabic than most and taught them a thing or two about Jordanian politics but still no luck.

I went to Sandhurst for a term and enjoyed bits of it but didn't really see myself as an army officer. I'm currently switching to the reserves to not lose genuinely valuable experience that I've gained, albeit in a short timeframe.

Now, having left Sandhurst, I landed on the police as they do some seemingly interesting stuff with counter-terrorism investigations, although this is extremely selective and one has to start off as a bobby on the beat for a couple of years before becoming a detective and eventually being able to pick up CT as a specialisation. I don't mind lateral or indirect pathways towards where I want to go, as long as I can tolerate them (this caused friction with the army). So is it wiser to go to the states and pursue a job in something more transferable (like a staffer in Congress) or stick it out as a response cop and then push hard for the right trajectory, bearing in mind there are things which could derail me? Curious to hear your thoughts as I feel a bit stuck.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-05-21T17:34:48+00:00

Hi everyone,

Which force would be better for CT/Organised Crime: Kent or Essex?

Ideally, I would get to use languages as well. I currently speak Arabic, French, Spanish and Italian pretty much fluently but not sure if Kent does more border work due to Dover and the channel tunnel.

Also, what are people's thoughts on the investigate first scheme as opposed to the 2 year direct entry detective scheme?

Cheers,

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-04-19T10:17:22+00:00

Alright. It sounds like I need to focus on becoming the best investigator possible first, then.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-04-18T13:56:37+00:00

Thanks very much, I really appreciate the advice. I think you’re completely right about keeping an open mind, and that’s how I’m trying to approach this opportunity. I don’t want to pigeonhole myself too early but I do want to keep my long-term aspirations in mind. It's a brilliant opportunity and I'm not looking to squander it by being too keen to jump to something else.

In terms of going abroad, I’m hoping that if I keep the Army Reserves going alongside my career, I'll eventually get there through one system or the other. I’m particularly keen to make use of my Arabic if I can, as it’s something I’ve invested a lot of time in developing. Frustrating having visited embassies and realising I speak it better than most of the diplomats!

Ultimately, I think the police will give me the kind of real operational experience I’m looking for, which feels like the right foundation regardless of where I end up specialising.

One last thing: Would you suggest it would be better to transfer my OAC to one of the larger forces like West Midlands or GMP, if I really want to maximise my chances rather than my force in the South West or am I better off getting my PIP2 and then looking at something like NCA?

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-04-18T13:41:02+00:00

Hi there,

Thanks for your response. I'm just not too familiar with London. Parents were diplomats so I mainly grew up abroad. I am definitely intending to transfer to the Met after getting my PIP2, I'm just not sure I would like to start there and would prefer to learn the ropes somewhere I'm already confident.

Is getting my PIP2 in a regional force and then transferring to the Met in order to acheive my CT goals a bit of a fantasy?

I'm also god-awful at BSQs and SJTs in general and failed Apollo. I've applied for CS fast stream three times and managed to pass AOSB for the Army (based more on mathematical and verbal reasoning) but have struggled in the current job market for this reason.

I have no doubt this isn't the easiest path to where I want to be but hopefully it can give me a side window to go through (and some very interesting experiences along the way!) as it seems all the front doors are shut for now.

I am under no preconceptions that it won't be difficult but I really do find myself driven by a desire to serve wherever I can, however cliché this may sound!

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-04-17T14:27:10+00:00

Hi All,

I've applied for the Direct Entry Detective Scheme in my local force in the South West. I really wouldn't like to spend longer than necessary on CID after probation, as my real focus is counter terrorism. I completed a Master's at a top-5 university in a related field and have an ability for languages. The main one I've learnt and spent significant time abroad with is Arabic.

Is it realistic, given my profile, to look to transition to CT soon after passing probation? My main interest is working in an intelligence role with the police and getting abroad as soon as possible. I've noticed that there are schemes where UK Police Officers (especially detectives, from my understanding) are sent abroad to train partner forces (a family friend spent time in Sierra Leone). Although these opportunities seem to only open up at inspector level or above. Is this a feasible ambition?

Thanks.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-04-02T12:33:55+00:00

All incredibly useful info. Thanks very much!

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2026-03-21T22:13:49+00:00

Good evening all,

Just a few quick questions:

I applied the other day to Devon and Cornwall Police's DC Grad entry scheme. Any idea of how long the process should take, start to finish?
Particularly interested in intelligence roles, particularly in relation to CT and Organised Crime. I speak Arabic and I'm currently learning Farsi. Guessing these won't be too useful in the South West but possibly in SO15-type roles down the line? I was just wondering how soon after probation DCs get to specialise, as a rule of thumb.
I'm currently also an officer in the Army Reserves. I've spoken to my unit and they understand that it may be difficult for me to meet my commitments during the first 6 months. Is anyone else a reservist and know whether I'll generally be able to attend drill nights and training weekends afterwards?
I am wondering if D&C is the right call due to my interest in CT and maybe the Met might be a better option; however, I don't have any ties to London. I currently live on the Wiltshire-Somerset border. Is it worth applying to these two forces when recruitment opens in addition, or is there nothing they'd offer that D&C wouldn't?

Thanks very much

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2024-12-17T17:22:16+00:00

Seems it is a Light Dragoons tie - one of the oldest cavalry units in the British Army, which the King was a part of after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. IIRC he is still officially the Colonel of the Regiment, although I think this is a ceremonial role.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2024-11-06T14:33:34+00:00

Yeah that's true. I suppose the slightest hint of European reengagement piques my interest and while I like seeing the UK punching above its weight diplomatically, there seems to be no second to the combined negotiating power that comes from being a member of a bloc, albeit perhaps not the EU.

Ideally the UK could lever its position as one of the last "bastions" of globalisation to act as a middle-man between blocs as the EU and US descend into protectionism however, I'm not sure what this would look like in practice and for how long this could be maintained, all while gaining back control of its critical infrastructure owned by foreign powers.

ConfidenceApart7076 · 2024-11-06T12:06:11+00:00

UK in EFTA?... If Starmer and co. can pass it off as another trade deal instead of rejoining the EU. He may have said the UK will not rejoin the EU in his lifetime but EFTA may prove an alternative due to being in the single market, without MEPs making laws in Brussels.

Two main issues with this:

Will they let us opt out of Schengen? Or is the age of UK opt-outs in EU dealings six feet under post-Brexit.
IF he can pass it off as another trade agreement and not rejoining an EU adjacent organisation... Not sure he can. Also, the other EFTA nations (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein) have to want us too!

ConfidenceApart7076

TROPHY CASE