Hampton native becomes Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s first teenage federal police officer
A Hampton native is the first teenage federal officer to police a naval installation after the region lowered its age requirement to combat a personnel shortage.
Kursten Clark, 19, confidently strides in uniform through the halls of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s police precinct.
“I have always wanted to be a police officer, even since I was a kid,” she said.
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, which spans 14 installations from Maine to Virginia and as far west as Indiana, is the first and only regional command to lower the age requirement of its federal officers from 21 to 18, said Teddy Smith, chief of security operations for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. The change occurred in January 2023.
Now more than a year later, the region is still working to fill around 50 vacancies in Hampton Roads, Smith said. He hopes the younger demographic will help fill the need.
Federal police officers are civilians hired by Navy Installations Command to enforce laws and manage base security. They often work alongside military police, master-at-arms sailors who are allowed to carry weapons at 18 years of age.
“Whether they are not going to go to college or they are not going to join the military, this affords them the opportunity to work for the military and be a part of the military, but not actually be in the military,” Smith said.
For Clark, who graduated from Kecoughtan High School last year, pursuing a career as a federal police officer was less about figuring out what to do with her life and more about fast-tracking her passion.
“I saw a lot on the news when I was younger — all the good things that they (police officers) would do — and I just really wanted to do that,” she said.
Clark was hired at age 18 by Navy Region Mid-Atlantic in late August. She left in October for Glynco, Georgia, to attend a three-month program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. She said she left the program with a new level of confidence in her abilities and her judgment.
“You have to go into things confidently,” Clark said.
Clark graduated Jan. 17 from the training center and joined Naval Weapons Station Yorktown as a certified federal officer. She said she is often tasked with patrolling or supervisory-type duties that support the security of the installation.
“It is very proactive work,” Clark said.
Hailing from a multigenerational Navy family, she is excited to be working alongside the branch.
“It’s nice to be working for the Navy and with them, but doing something different in my own special way,” Clark said.
To reach more youth, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic connected with New Horizons Regional Education Center in Newport News where Clark was enrolled in a criminal justice program. The command is also working to host presentations at area high schools.
Despite the need, the recruiting process for 18- to 20-year-olds is rigorous, Smith said. It requires several interviews to ensure the candidate can handle the responsibility put on their shoulders.
“It takes a special person to do it — a lot of dedication on her part,” Smith said. “We were really seeking out someone that had the intelligence and the drive and the maturity level to get through the program.”
Clark won’t be the only teenage federal police officer for long. Smith said another teen was recently selected as a candidate who will be placed at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach when he completes the onboarding and training process.
Those interested in applying to be a federal police officer with Navy Region Mid-Atlantic can do so by emailing DirectHirePolice@navy.mil. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, possess a valid U.S. driver’s license, have no felony convictions and be able to obtain a security clearance. Starting pay can range from $40,770 to $65,654, and there is a hiring incentive bonus of up to $20,000.
Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com
