I'm considering working somewhere in federal law enforcement (FBI, DOS, NSA, ATF, DOD, DEA, etc etc) after I graduate this May - any tww'ers working for any agencies? What do you do? How do you like it? Are you hiring?

3/23/2006 10:35:28 PM

The Air Force is always hiring. Technically I work for NSA, and if I go to Maryland, then I really will be working there.
Ahh, the big, black box.

3/23/2006 11:09:08 PM

My sister works for the ATF. She's not an agent, just an inspector . She was a detective in High Point but got tired of the crap and the drama. Its basically going around to gun dealers and such and making sure everything is on the up and up. You don't do raids, or anything... don't even carry a gun (that's the sort of job she was getting away from). Here is what she wrote for me to give to a cop I know: "The rate of promotion is GS5 one year, then GS7 one year, then GS 9 one year, then GS 11 one year. So if you get hired as a GS7, which is very probable w/college, you start around 35k, then one year you go to 41k, then one year you go to 51k and at your third year you are at 62k. At around 5 years you pretty much level off in the mid 70’s unless you become a supervisor." So you can see the pay is really damn good in federal law enforcement. Oh, and the glory fed jobs are not something that come easily. This particular job she was talking about is probably not the kind of action you are looking for... its great for law enforcement that want stable hours and less danger because of kids or whatever.

http://www.atf.gov/jobs/joblist.htm (Industry Operations Investigator is the title)

This site links them all it seems: http://www.copcareer.com/federal/federalpage.htm

[Edited on March 23, 2006 at 11:13 PM. Reason : .]

3/23/2006 11:11:58 PM

Hahaha I'm already in the Army National Guard. I just got screwed out of a training seat until the next FY so that's why I'm looking for a full-time job. How was DLI? That's where I got screwed out of training

^Thanks man, that's exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I wonder if the payscale's the same for the doorkickers...

[Edited on March 23, 2006 at 11:16 PM. Reason : .]

3/23/2006 11:12:33 PM

Oh, and my brother-in-law was inches away from becoming an FBI agent but while doing a drug bust his fingers got twisted up in a suspects jacket that spun and took off running... it broke a finger on his shooting hand in multiple place and the surgery couldn't get it right so he was too "disabled" for the FBI since he couldn't bend his finger all the way. He's in his mid 30's, is a Captain in the police, headed a NARC unit, a K-9 unit, and a TACT/SWAT unit, and was in Special Forces before becoming a cop. His resume was perfect. Even for him it wasn't a cake walk. I know he had to take a polygraph over 3 times because they had concerns over some activity during questions about drugs (having worked NARC it made for awkward answers to "Have you ever purchased..." etc. The finger that won't bend all the way is what did him in though. The whole process took about 2 years if I am not mistaken.

^ I do believe they make a bit more (hazard pay plus a more demanding job in general). If you equated an ATF agent to a State Trooper, my sister's job would be like a DMV Enforcement Officer so theres going to be a notable pay difference. I also have an aunt that has been a US Air Marshall for probably almost 20-25 years now... I know she's making well over $100,000 now (more supervisor/mgmt now though). Of course that sort of security is a tad more strenuous these days.

3/23/2006 11:25:08 PM

DLI. Six hours a day of your target language. The military up your ass wondering why you haven't devoted your life to solely learning that language. The teachers not being able to understand why you can't speak their native language (never mind that they don't know English as well as you're required to know their native language). Homework, homework, homework. Lots of drinking. The only reason I would ever consider going back would be to be able to be stationed in Monterey again.

3/23/2006 11:25:38 PM

http://www.911jobforums.com/vB/forumdisplay.php3?s=05ef00995b74d745d28eb2c88f4fb89d&forumid=58

3/23/2006 11:43:05 PM

There are a lot of FLEO jobs out there and should explore what type of enforcement you want to do. I.E. Investigative like FBI, DEA, AFT, DS, USSS (1811 Positions) or another type of law enforement like NSA Police, CIA Police, Law Enforcement Ranger, United States Park Police, USSS UD, etc. All federal just different aspects.

3/23/2006 11:54:54 PM

I dunno, I could go lotsa ways - I'm really interested in counter-drug, counter-gun, counter-terrorism... Pretty much anything investigative (not just an inspector). I really would like to stay away from the NSA -with a CSC degree I've had too much math/science/crypto/security in the last several years.

Any chance I could actually land a job with these agencies? As I said, I'm just a National Guardsman with a CSC degree. I have had some investigative training with my Guard job though...

3/24/2006 12:02:45 AM

Check the link I posted and usajobs.com and look at the agencies you are interested in. They hire at different times and such. I know DS just had a round of hirings but other then that I don't know. Look at each agencies websites for their qualifications. Most require a degree (so you are fine) and I think some give you points for military service. But they have some tight background requirements and drug use guidelines. I know you said you like the anti-gun, counter terrorism stuff but there is alot of cool investigation positions out there like Marine Fisheries Investigators, Etc. On the non federal level, The SBI is hiring.

3/24/2006 12:11:47 AM

no experience no chance. i did an internship with the marshal service and can't get crap without experience. actually you could work for secret service in the uniform division without any experience.

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 12:25 AM. Reason : ]

3/24/2006 12:25:15 AM

Quote :

"counter-drug, counter-gun"

What's wrong with drugs and guns?
......I mean, besides the idiocy of people who think we should get rid of them to make the world somehow better.

Quote :

"...while doing a drug bust his fingers got twisted up in a suspects jacket that spun and took off running... it broke a finger on his shooting hand in multiple place and the surgery couldn't get it right..."

Serves him right for helping to enforce an unjust law.
http://www.leap.cc/

Quote :

"I'm considering working somewhere in federal law enforcement"

Unless you only go after real criminals, like murderers, rapists, and thieves.....you're nothing but a misguided g0vt tool.

OH NO! YOU MIGHT TIP THE FEDS ABOUT ME NOW!!! I'M SOOOOO SCARED

3/24/2006 12:28:22 AM

^^Marshall Service is one of the most sought after jobs in FLE.

3/24/2006 12:33:28 AM

Quote :

"Serves him right for helping to enforce an unjust law."

Nobody deserves to have their career/dream/income/life taking away because of something like that. Not even a loser like yourself.

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 12:37 AM. Reason : g/s/p]

3/24/2006 12:37:13 AM

Quote :

"[quote] "counter-drug, counter-gun" "

What's wrong with drugs and guns?
......I mean, besides the idiocy of people who think we should get rid of them to make the world somehow better.
[/quote]

Exactly. I'm tired of a few retards misusing firearms and then the liberal hippies pointing to guns as the problem and penalizing the law abiding citizens with restrictive laws.

Quote :

" Quote : "...while doing a drug bust his fingers got twisted up in a suspects jacket that spun and took off running... it broke a finger on his shooting hand in multiple place and the surgery couldn't get it right..." Serves him right for helping to enforce an unjust law."

You don't even know what the guy did...

Quote :

" Quote : "I'm considering working somewhere in federal law enforcement" Unless you only go after real criminals, like murderers, rapists, and thieves.....you're nothing but a misguided g0vt tool. "

You're sending a mixed message, man - you talk about unjust enforcement of a drug law, but then you talk about how guns should be sold in a convenience store. Usually pot-smoking hippies are anti-guns and violence; which side are you on?

What I WANT to do is get the bad guys - the ones who ruin things for the rest of us. The whole point of law enforcement is to protect the common citizen so he can go about his daily business without having to worry about being transgressed against by criminals.

3/24/2006 12:48:10 AM

Quote :

"their career/dream/income/life taking away"

Wow, that sounds a lot like something that happens to drug addicts every day...
HOW DARE THEY GET ADDICTED! DRUGS ARE BAD!
THEY DESERVE TO ROT IN JAIL FOR HAVING A HEALTH PROBLEM!

Quote :

"You don't even know what the guy did...."

No, you're right. I assumed he/she was only guilty of drug-related crimes....

Quote :

"Exactly. I'm tired of a few retards misusing firearms and then the liberal hippies pointing to guns as the problem and penalizing the law abiding citizens with restrictive laws."

I couldn't agree more. (I'm neither liberal, nor a hippie.)

Quote :

"You're sending a mixed message, man - you talk about unjust enforcement of a drug law, but then you talk about how guns should be sold in a convenience store. Usually pot-smoking hippies are anti-guns and violence; which side are you on?"

I don't see a mixed message--I think you may be seeing things as black and white, though... Assuming that marijuana users necessarily are liberal is, well, prejudiced. You see how all that profiling they taught you has closed your mind?

Like I said, I may smoke pot, but I'm not a hippie. Which side I am on? I'm on the side of responsible adults being able to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't harm/restrict anyone else, their property, or their right to the same.

Quote :

"What I WANT to do is get the bad guys - the ones who ruin things for the rest of us"

That's great. Just remember, responsible drug and gun users, as well as responsible drug and gun providers/sellers aren't bad guys.



[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 1:05 AM. Reason : ]

3/24/2006 12:48:38 AM

^I think we're on the same page. However, even if I think you should be able to smoke yourself stupid in your own home, if I end up in a law enforcement position I'm gonna have to follow the law whether I think it's right or not.

In fact, I think they should regulate pot like they do alcohol. It would change our economy. Can you imagine how many people are taking up jail beds for minor possession? Do you realize how much revenue could me made off of taxing marijuana? Just look at all that money Wake County gets from alcohol every year! But once again, that's just my opinion.

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 1:17 AM. Reason : .]

3/24/2006 1:15:57 AM

Quote :

"THEY DESERVE TO ROT IN JAIL FOR HAVING A HEALTH PROBLEM! "

You could argue that nearly every crime is a result of a bilogical diffeciency or other factor out of the control of the individual... chemical imbalance in the brain, undiagnosed mental disease like schizophrenia, severely abusive and corrupted upbringing that results in an illogical social understanding, etc.

Quote :

"No, you're right. I assumed he/she was only guilty of drug-related crimes...."

And you assumed wrong.

Quote :

"That's great. Just remember, responsible drug and gun users, as well as responsible drug and gun providers/sellers aren't bad guys. "

That responsible fraction of society having more freedom does not outweigh the vast majority of society involved in this who are not responsible.

3/24/2006 1:24:20 AM

Quote :

"You could argue that nearly every crime is a result of a bilogical diffeciency or other factor out of the control of the individual... chemical imbalance in the brain, undiagnosed mental disease like schizophrenia, severely abusive and corrupted upbringing that results in an illogical social understanding, etc."

you would lose that argument

3/24/2006 1:25:39 AM

^^^Which is why you should join LEAP.
http://www.leap.cc/

Don't you have some choice in what types of crimes you fight?
I mean, you originally listed the ATF and the DEA as agencies you're interested in.....
....those agencies should be shut down (and not replaced)

Try going for the FBI, but only work on busting murderers, rapists, thieves and the like....
.....don't you have any say? or do they get to assign you to whichever squad/team they want?

Quote :

"You could argue that nearly every crime is a result of a bilogical diffeciency or other factor out of the control of the individual..."

I agree with Josh8315, you would lose that argument.
Besides, it's not a fair comparison, drug addiction only "harms" the addict. (should we outlaw obesity?) A mental case that murders actually harmed someone else.

Quote :

"That responsible fraction of society having more freedom does not outweigh the vast majority of society involved in this who are not responsible"

Well, if it were legal, the irresponsible ones could be held accountable. You don't hear too much news about cigarette and alcohol sellers killing each other over territory, or selling to underage individuals..... The crime associated with drugs is caused by drug prohibition--there's no regulation or accountability in the black market, thus we have gangs and such..... gangs members can make thou$ands selling drugs, but if the drugs were legal (for adults,) gangs would lose their funding, and all but disappear.......which would free up law enforcement resources, allowing them to catch more murderers, rapists, thieves, etc.

The billions now spent on fighting drugs could instead be spent on providing treatment for addiction. Sending addicts to prison just introduces them to real criminals who teach them how to commit crimes when they get out. The US has an embarrassing percentage of it's citizens locked up. It's truly sad.


[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 1:49 AM. Reason : ]

3/24/2006 1:27:17 AM

Quote :

"you would lose that argument"

Not at all... simply depends on how far you want to take determinism. Its relatively easy to mold someone into a sociopath.

Quote :

"Besides, it's not a fair comparison, drug addiction only "harms" the addict. (should we outlaw obesity?) A mental case that murders actually harmed someone else."

Substances do need to be regulated to an extent (much like OTC vs. prescription) but I have no problem with legalizing the light recreational drugs. Crack and heroine have no place as a legalized substance, just like nitro heart pills have no place as an OTC medicine. There are breakpoints where you have to do things for the general safety of the population. Gun control, to an extent, is also needed. Its not like the gun control laws are overbearing by any stretch.

3/24/2006 1:45:28 AM

Quote :

"At around 5 years you pretty much level off in the mid 70’s unless you become a supervisor."

Quote :

"So you can see the pay is really damn good in federal law enforcement."

Does not compute. You could get way more than that in private industry. Gov pay universally sucks. I guess you can't get a license to be a power tripping asshole in private industry, though

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 1:51 AM. Reason : sdf]

3/24/2006 1:49:17 AM

Quote :

"Does not compute. You could get way more than that in private industry. Gov pay universally sucks"

We are talking about an inspector, not an agent. Making in the 70's for what amounts to following up paperwork at pawn shops and gun dealers is a steal. his is not a gun carrying position or anything. Hell, you don't even need law enforcement experience to get the job. Yes, private industry always pays more but it doesn't have the job security of government and that is a big concern for a lot of people. Oh and you can make a couple hundred thousand a year in government in a wide range of professions so I wouldn't apply blanket statements like that.

[Edited on March 24, 2006 at 1:55 AM. Reason : .]

3/24/2006 1:54:24 AM

One way or another, government jobs are highly competitive. The Marshals salary and every other GS job in which you carry a gun is very very handsome.

3/24/2006 2:02:40 AM

Quote :

"Oh and you can make a couple hundred thousand a year in government in a wide range of professions so I wouldn't apply blanket statements like that. "

But you will always make more in private industry in a position that requires equivalent qualifications.

3/24/2006 2:02:58 AM

You have a better chance at getting a job in private industry but the money isn't always better. Otherwise these jobs wouldn't be so hard to come by.

3/24/2006 2:04:10 AM

gov pay scales are fixed, so the correlation b/w competition for a job and pay are weak. This is not the line of reasoning you are looking for.

3/24/2006 2:21:04 AM

[no]

3/24/2006 2:49:50 AM

Quote :

"But you will always make more in private industry in a position that requires equivalent qualifications."

There is not always an equivalent job, and definitely not necessarily one available in the private industry.

3/24/2006 9:08:59 AM

actually gov't salaries are not always fixed. they offer bonus percentages like you couldn't believe.

3/24/2006 12:30:10 PM

I got selected for the oral assessment for the Diplomatic Security Service right after I finished undergrad. It was a really gruelling experience and they really were looking for more experience than I had at the time. What really helped me there was that I had worked at an overseas embassy and knew the day to day routine of an RSO.

3/24/2006 12:32:16 PM