AO1 Unit 1

Describe the main work roles and investigate the main work function of two
contrasting public services

For this assignment I will be describing the main work and investigating the main
work function of two contrasting public services. The two public services I am going
to be looking at is the Army and the Police, The main work function of the army I am
going to be looking at is the infantry commando’s and snipers and the Police I am
going to be looking at PSCO’s and Dog handlers.

The Army

• EOD
• Communication systems engineer
• Communication driver storeman
• Vehicle mechanic
• Infantry soldier
• Engineer logistics
• Musician
• HR administrator
• Adult health nurse
• Paratroop platoon officer
• Intelligence operative
• Environmental health officer
• Logistic ammunition technician
• Plant & Construction foreman
• Logistic postal courier
• Avionics technician
• Specialist driver
• Pilot
• HR officer
• Air defence gunner (HVM)
 • Parachutist
• Plant transporter driver
• Sniper
• Infantry commandos

The Police

• PC
• Dog handler
• PCSO
• Bomb squad
• Drug squad
• CID ( Plain clothes detective)
• Dog trainer
• Riot squad
• Armed response
• Call operator
• Chief constable
• Forensic submissions officer

For the army part of this unit I will be looking at snipers and infantry soldiers. Snipers
the Role: For snipers, being a crack shot is only half the story. You will learn
advanced navigation and route selection skills, as well as be taught how to disguise
yourself and remain hidden in the field. Your role is to provide cover for advancing
troops, and to take out key enemy targets from hidden locations and vantage points.
You will also learn undercover skills to avoid enemy detection, and develop good
battlefield knowledge to keep one step ahead. What this means is that to be a good
sniper not only do you have to have a good aim, you also have navigate your squad of
normally about 10 and stay undetected by enemies.

The Skills: All soldiers learn basic skills in marksmanship, but as a sniper you enter
another league of weapons expertise. The training is some of the toughest the
Infantry offers and many subsequently apply for selection to the Special Forces.
(http://www.army.mod.uk)

Infantry Commando’s

The Role: Infantry Commandos are some of the world's best soldiers - strong, tough
and versatile in the field. On the front line you will work closely with the Navy's
Royal Marines and Army's ground troops, providing a vital link between land and sea.

The Skills: To become a Commando you must pass the All Arms Commando course,
an advanced soldier programmed run by the Royal Marines. Becoming a Commando
is also a big step towards selection for a Special Forces unit like the SAS. What this
means is to be a Commando you have to go through what every normal infantry
soldier goes through but you have to be the best physical and physiologically. You
need this so you can deal with the stress of every day duties of being a commando.

PCSO

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are uniformed police staff whose role is
to provide a high visibility presence in the community, helping the police to tackle
anti-social behavior and offering reassurance to the public. PCSOs typically work as
part of neighborhood policing teams. They complement the work of police officers by
focusing their skills predominantly on lower level crime, disorder and anti-social
behavior (ASB). PCSOs have a key role to play freeing up police officer time, for
example, by undertaking some tasks which require police presence but not necessarily
the expertise of a fully sworn officer. What this means is that PCSOs are not the same
as police officers that deal with emergency calls for serious crimes the main focus of
PCSOs are to parole the communities to stop anti social behavior and to speak to
people really.

Dog handlers
The role of a police dog handler is to assist the police in the prevention and detection
of crime and often to locate missing people or offenders that are trying to hide from
the police to avoid being caught.

The Work
As a dog handler, you would work with a specially trained dog and have
responsibility for its care and control. You would work mainly for the police, the
army and RAF, HM Revenue and Customs service, or private security firms.

You and your dog will work as a team, helping to prevent and detect crime, finding
lost or missing persons or protecting property, depending on the service you work for.

In the police force dogs are used for:

• tracking missing persons

• controlling crowds, for example at football matches

• searching for explosives or illegal drugs

• chasing armed criminals

• Guarding prisoners.

In all services you would work shifts on a Rota that covers 24 hours, seven days a
week.

In some organizations, such as the police service, you would look after your dog in
your own home, so you would need suitable facilities. The job is physically
demanding – you would need to keep up with your dog during tough training
sessions, and would work outside in all weather conditions.

Once you start work as a dog handler your training will vary depending on the
organization.

For example, in the police force you would:

• attend a training course

• receive tutoring from an experienced handler for one month before going on
patrol

• Complete a one-year probationary period.

Experienced dog handlers can sometimes earn up to £25,000 a year depending on
which force you work with.