Riverina Police District Superintendent Bob Noble grew up in a small country town and attended the Police Academy in Goulburn.

"I was posted to south-west Sydney at Lakemba Police Station," he said.

"From there I worked in the inner-west around Five Dock, Drummoyne, Burwood and then down to Hurstville.

"Then I did a stint out in Walgett."

Superintendent Noble moved to the south coast for a few years before returning to Walgett, where he became commander in 2009.

"I then transferred down here as the commander in 2013," he said.

"I have been all over the place and it has all been frontline operational."

Superintendent Noble said he received a lot of the advice as a young police officer, and gained knowledge from observing others more experienced.

"I am still learning in this regard," he said.

"The rest of it is opinion formed from more than 28 years of operational policing in many different places, doing many different things with many different police officers.

"Ultimately, every individual officer must find their own way."

Superintendent Noble said it's a demanding vocation of course - but the experiences and relationships that flow from it are enriching on so many levels.

Here are his six rules for new or aspiring police officers.

Rule One: Keep it Real

Come in with both eyes open. The job will be hard on you at times. If you are not exposed to the threat of or are the victim of physical violence, or do not encounter troubling situations or circumstances, you are not doing police work.

Have realistic expectations in this regard. We are here to safeguard the regular citizens within the community from having to deal with these things; much the same way defence personnel fight in combat so the rest of us don't need to.

Rule Two: Positivity

Adopt a positive attitude and strong resolve that you will be OK; that you shall prevail. Positivity and resolve are critical to longevity and satisfaction in the force.

Rule Three: Horses for Courses

Most people deep down realise pretty quickly whether they are well suited to police work or not. If you decide it is the vocation for you, then you have work to do to ensure you survive the journey.

If you decide it is not what you were called to do, it is better to leave early to pursue something that can make you truly happy, than to persevere and inevitably do yourself harm which could have a long-term effect.

Rule Four: The Right Help

Seek support and help when needed, and earlier rather than later.

This may not always be medical - seek out someone you respect and trust first if the situation allows for this. This might be a parent, a mate or a sibling, a sporting coach or a member of clergy.

Decide what type of assistance you think you need before embarking down a treatment or assistance pathway that may cut off your options later.

Rule Five: Don't Be a Victim

If you do this job long enough, you will experience hardships.

Wherever possible view these as challenges to be overcome. Viewing yourself as a victim is a negative frame of thinking which can be hard to turn back from.

Experts and practitioners in the Domestic Violence field discuss persons who have experienced significant DV as needing to view themselves as "survivors" rather than "victims".

I am talking about much the same thing.

Rule Six: Give Thanks

Always be thankful for what the job gives you. The friendships, the experiences, the opportunities.

Yes, sometimes these can be coloured with some regrets and negative outcomes - but allow the positive things that come to you, to stand on their own as good things in and of themselves.

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