User Panel
Posted: 7/17/2019 9:20:11 PM EDT
I was hoping to hear your experiences with both, and also the advantages and disadvantages career wise (possible special training, transition to investigative positions, duty locations) for CBP Officer vs. BP Agent.
Any insight would be welcome. I already have federal LE training and a graduate degree, and I'm thinking about trying for a position in DHS. |
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When I applied, it was for Border Patrol Agent.
The way it was explained to me is the Agents do more of the field work. The Officers have a more regular work station at a port of entry. However from my understanding they often perform intersecting roles at various times. Again, this is just how it was explained to me. If there are any errors hopefully someone more knowledgable can set me straight. Also, don’t be colorblind you can’t get in no matter how well you do on everything else |
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Here's some stream of consciousness for you:
Border Patrol Agent on the Southwest border is running the bush grabbing illegals and dope. CBP Officer (Field Operations) on the SWB is sitting at a port of entry processing traffic, commercial traffic (trucks and trains) and pedestrians. BP on the northern border is taking naps, riding four wheelers/snowmobiles, pulling over stupid Canadians and helping the locals. CBPO is doing the same thing as the SWB, but less busy and a hell of a lot colder. BP isn't really at airports or seaports - that's the CBPO's domain. This could involved sitting in a small box stamping passports 16 hours a day or tearing apart containers in 100 degree temps with 100% humidity. BP has slightly better pay at first (GL pay scale) but a CBPO has the potential to make quite a bit more. The transition to an 1811 job is pretty much equal for both... as far as my anecdotal observations goe. Overall, CBPO's have a much better selection at duty locations. CBPOs have a hell of a lot easier time getting a gig overseas if that's your thing. Which position is more rewarding? Probably BPA your first few years... but then you get sick of the SWB and can't get out - so you switch to CBPO and hate your life while making more cash in a slightly less shitty place. Good luck. |
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Just a thought, you can apply for both, and see what they offer you. BP is always going to start on SWB, but there's a HUGE difference between, say, Sanderson and Corpus Christi. OFO does all sorts of weird hires, sometimes it's nationwide, sometimes for a specific region, sometimes for specific POEs. BP typically hires by sector, but it varies sometimes.
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Quoted:
Here's some stream of consciousness for you: Border Patrol Agent on the Southwest border is running the bush grabbing illegals and dope. CBP Officer (Field Operations) on the SWB is sitting at a port of entry processing traffic, commercial traffic (trucks and trains) and pedestrians. BP on the northern border is taking naps, riding four wheelers/snowmobiles, pulling over stupid Canadians and helping the locals. CBPO is doing the same thing as the SWB, but less busy and a hell of a lot colder. BP isn't really at airports or seaports - that's the CBPO's domain. This could involved sitting in a small box stamping passports 16 hours a day or tearing apart containers in 100 degree temps with 100% humidity. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Here's some stream of consciousness for you: Border Patrol Agent on the Southwest border is running the bush grabbing illegals and dope. CBP Officer (Field Operations) on the SWB is sitting at a port of entry processing traffic, commercial traffic (trucks and trains) and pedestrians. BP on the northern border is taking naps, riding four wheelers/snowmobiles, pulling over stupid Canadians and helping the locals. CBPO is doing the same thing as the SWB, but less busy and a hell of a lot colder. BP isn't really at airports or seaports - that's the CBPO's domain. This could involved sitting in a small box stamping passports 16 hours a day or tearing apart containers in 100 degree temps with 100% humidity. Quoted:
BP has slightly better pay at first (GL pay scale) but a CBPO has the potential to make quite a bit more. The transition to an 1811 job is pretty much equal for both... as far as my anecdotal observations goe. I figure that somewhere down the road an 1811 position might be more interesting and intellectually stimulating, so it's nice to know it's a possibility. Quoted:
Overall, CBPO's have a much better selection at duty locations. CBPOs have a hell of a lot easier time getting a gig overseas if that's your thing. Quoted:
Which position is more rewarding? Probably BPA your first few years... but then you get sick of the SWB and can't get out - so you switch to CBPO and hate your life while making more cash in a slightly less shitty place. Good luck. |
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Quoted:
Just a thought, you can apply for both, and see what they offer you. BP is always going to start on SWB, but there's a HUGE difference between, say, Sanderson and Corpus Christi. OFO does all sorts of weird hires, sometimes it's nationwide, sometimes for a specific region, sometimes for specific POEs. BP typically hires by sector, but it varies sometimes. View Quote |
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Does anyone know how long it takes before a CBPO can request an overseas assignment or a pre-clearance location?
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I can't answer the OP's questions but did meet a former BP guy who said he was hired for the northern border. I was surprised but he told me it is possible to go straight to work at the northern border. He did say it was pretty boring.
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Quoted:
I can't answer the OP's questions but did meet a former BP guy who said he was hired for the northern border. I was surprised but he told me it is possible to go straight to work at the northern border. He did say it was pretty boring. View Quote here (mostly) |
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Okay, I get the feeling that the northern border is terribly boring.
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If you have a graduate degree why not go ahead and apply for 1811 gig? FBI and USSS love advanced degrees from what I've seen. A degree isn't even a requirement for USSS 1811 anymore (although unlikely to get hired without one).
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Quoted:
I can't answer the OP's questions but did meet a former BP guy who said he was hired for the northern border. I was surprised but he told me it is possible to go straight to work at the northern border. He did say it was pretty boring. View Quote |
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Quoted:
If you have a graduate degree why not go ahead and apply for 1811 gig? FBI and USSS love advanced degrees from what I've seen. A degree isn't even a requirement for USSS 1811 anymore (although unlikely to get hired without one). View Quote |
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Apply for both and see what shakes out. I know we're doing a bunch of hiring but the problem has been the polygraph and the contractor who runs it. I've seen a lot of ads for USSS recently so I guess they're doing a hiring push as well. The problem we're (BP) having with retention is that the nature of the job means you have to work and live in remote areas with nothing to do off-duty. Doesn't do well for guys with families.
The work is definitely more boring for a CBPO but you get much better duty locations, double time for OT, and other small things. If action is your thing, then BP is the way to go. |
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Does anyone know how long it takes before a CBPO can request an overseas assignment or a pre-clearance location? View Quote I'm coming in at a 09 when I EOD in Sept and my wife and I are also both hoping for a PC spot in a couple of years. |
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Quoted:
If you have a graduate degree why not go ahead and apply for 1811 gig? FBI and USSS love advanced degrees from what I've seen. A degree isn't even a requirement for USSS 1811 anymore (although unlikely to get hired without one). View Quote |
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There seems to be a lot of confusion on the organization of CBP and calling agencies by the wrong name in here. Would hate for anyone to apply for a job and go to an interview and not understand the hierarchy.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the overarching entity within DHS for customs and border protection and consists of three law enforcement agencies that work together to secure the US Borders. Those three agencies are : Office of Field Operations (OFO) These are the officers in blue working at the Ports of Entry US Border Patrol - These are the agents in green working between the ports of Entry Air and Marine Operations - These agents work the boats and aircraft patrolling the borders Another confusing and often misunderstood part of DHS is ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) ICE has two agencies in it: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - they investigate pretty much anything that has a cross border nexus Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) - these are the guys that round up illegals and process the removals |
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Yep, you are absolutely correct...I didn't want to add additional confusion to the already confusing confusion. USBP does have some nice boats, jet skis, atv's, etc.
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Quoted: I've applied for various 1811 positions in the past with no luck. I just applied for a CGIS 1811 position yesterday morning. I'll probably give the FBI and USSS positions on USAJobs.gov a try just to see what happens. View Quote |
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Quoted: While your probably right, I do know two SA guys who were hired on without degrees. They did come from the .mil though. View Quote |
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Currently poised to hit "yes" to accept the conditional offer and start navigating the interview, poly, medical, stuff.
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I thought they were trying to expedite applicants these days? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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I thought they were trying to expedite applicants these days? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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Quoted: It's my understanding that they are. What I've read is maybe 6 months. The test was processed quickly, though the invitation might have been generated automatically. Really only concerned with the poly since it's got a 2/3rds rate of failure. Although, things might a little hectic if my bosses find out since they tend to just fire people when it's found they are looking elsewhere. But, I tell myself, why stay somewhere like that anyway. The pay is way less then I currently make so it will be a hardship for a couple years. Luckily, my wife can work anywhere she wants. View Quote |
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Quoted:
I was told by a DEA recruiter that for them to keep up with attrition over the next few years they'll need to hire and train hundreds of new 1811's within the coming years. You'll have to go to dea.gov and apply since they have a different hiring process than the OPM listing on usajobs.gov. It's not a hard test at all. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted: I've applied for various 1811 positions in the past with no luck. I just applied for a CGIS 1811 position yesterday morning. I'll probably give the FBI and USSS positions on USAJobs.gov a try just to see what happens. |
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Quoted: I've applied for various 1811 positions in the past with no luck. I just applied for a CGIS 1811 position yesterday morning. I'll probably give the FBI and USSS positions on USAJobs.gov a try just to see what happens. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: I've applied for various 1811 positions in the past with no luck. I just applied for a CGIS 1811 position yesterday morning. I'll probably give the FBI and USSS positions on USAJobs.gov a try just to see what happens. Quoted: Do it. It'll take a year to navigate through the process anyway Some agencies only accept aps during certain windows. USSS and I think like USMS used to be hyperpicky. When I applied for TSA, it took almost a year to hear anything back. I had totally forgot that I had applied. (shrugs) Meantime, what are you doing to improve your odds? How are you formatting your job-specific resumes? Do they parallel the KSA's? |
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Quoted:
There seems to be a lot of confusion on the organization of CBP and calling agencies by the wrong name in here. Would hate for anyone to apply for a job and go to an interview and not understand the hierarchy. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the overarching entity within DHS for customs and border protection and consists of three law enforcement agencies that work together to secure the US Borders. Those three agencies are : Office of Field Operations (OFO) These are the officers in blue working at the Ports of Entry US Border Patrol - These are the agents in green working between the ports of Entry Air and Marine Operations - These agents work the boats and aircraft patrolling the borders Another confusing and often misunderstood part of DHS is ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) ICE has two agencies in it: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - they investigate pretty much anything that has a cross border nexus Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) - these are the guys that round up illegals and process the removals View Quote It would be like a major metropolitan police department's Homicide Division (let's say Los Angeles PD) came up with their own badge and credentials showing only "Homicide Division Police Department" and badge number on the badge and credentials and no indication that the officer works for LAPD because LAPD is no longer on their badge and credentials. |
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Well, I was rejected for the CBP Officer GS-9 position (my graduate degree isn't in a law enforcement specific field). I'll have to see what happens with the CBP Officer GS-7 grade and the Border Patrol Agent GL-7 grade. I don't really want to work on the border, but my student loans aren't going to just disappear!
Time will tell with the CGIS and USSS 1811 positions. I still need to finish applications for DEA and FBI 1811 positions. The last 1811 announcement that I applied for was with ICE back in 2016. |
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If we're being technical, ICE does not have two "agencies" in it. ICE "is" the agency that is one of many agencies under DHS. ICE has two "branches," one is known as ERO - which has the Immigration Enforcement Agents and Deportation Officers and HSI, which is the investigative branch of ICE. Years ago HQ ICE Investigations tried to establish themselves as a separate agency from ERO and came up with the "agency" "sounding name" of HSI with their own badge and credentials which do not the list actual agency on them, namely ICE. They are still a branch of the agency known as ICE, they just don't have it on the credentials or badge. I know because I have both, the original ICE badge and credentials and the newer HSI badges and credentials. It would be like a major metropolitan police department's Homicide Division (let's say Los Angeles PD) came up with their own badge and credentials showing only "Homicide Division Police Department" and badge number on the badge and credentials and no indication that the officer works for LAPD because LAPD is no longer on their badge and credentials. View Quote Regardless, I'd love to get a position with ICE/HSI. |
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If we're being technical, ICE does not have two "agencies" in it. ICE "is" the agency that is one of many agencies under DHS. ICE has two "branches," one is known as ERO - which has the Immigration Enforcement Agents and Deportation Officers and HSI, which is the investigative branch of ICE. Years ago HQ ICE Investigations tried to establish themselves as a separate agency from ERO and came up with the "agency" "sounding name" of HSI with their own badge and credentials which do not the list actual agency on them, namely ICE. They are still a branch of the agency known as ICE, they just don't have it on the credentials or badge. I know because I have both, the original ICE badge and credentials and the newer HSI badges and credentials. It would be like a major metropolitan police department's Homicide Division (let's say Los Angeles PD) came up with their own badge and credentials showing only "Homicide Division Police Department" and badge number on the badge and credentials and no indication that the officer works for LAPD because LAPD is no longer on their badge and credentials. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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There seems to be a lot of confusion on the organization of CBP and calling agencies by the wrong name in here. Would hate for anyone to apply for a job and go to an interview and not understand the hierarchy. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the overarching entity within DHS for customs and border protection and consists of three law enforcement agencies that work together to secure the US Borders. Those three agencies are : Office of Field Operations (OFO) These are the officers in blue working at the Ports of Entry US Border Patrol - These are the agents in green working between the ports of Entry Air and Marine Operations - These agents work the boats and aircraft patrolling the borders Another confusing and often misunderstood part of DHS is ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) ICE has two agencies in it: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - they investigate pretty much anything that has a cross border nexus Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) - these are the guys that round up illegals and process the removals It would be like a major metropolitan police department's Homicide Division (let's say Los Angeles PD) came up with their own badge and credentials showing only "Homicide Division Police Department" and badge number on the badge and credentials and no indication that the officer works for LAPD because LAPD is no longer on their badge and credentials. |
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Does anyone know if ICE/HSI is going to be hiring again this year? I think the last announcement was in March or April.
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Is entering duty on provisional clear status advised? I don't believe there are any dis-qualifiers in my back ground, but would be disappointed to get the boot at a later date.
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Anyone take the entrance exam? I have it coming up in 2 weeks, and am wondering how difficult it is lol
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Quoted: When I was with ICE there was talk of making all of the IEAs into DOs, did that ever happen? This was 2014 timeframe View Quote 2014: 1.) Promote them all and have the contractors do even more of the work originally done by IEAs now: 2.) Start worrying about all the liability of have non-sworn doing so much LE work... Soon: 3.) Reinvent the IEA position with actual agency employees again Later: 4.) The new IEA workers will complain they are not paid as -12s 2024 or so: 5.)Return to step 1 |
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I can't answer the OP's questions but did meet a former BP guy who said he was hired for the northern border. I was surprised but he told me it is possible to go straight to work at the northern border. He did say it was pretty boring. View Quote |
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Anyone take the entrance exam? I have it coming up in 2 weeks, and am wondering how difficult it is lol View Quote It looks like just basic Logical Reasoning, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Writing Skills. |
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Quoted: Very interesting. It sounds as if it's an attempt to adopt a more generic designation in order to highlight their broader mission as an investigative agency under DHS. Regardless, I'd love to get a position with ICE/HSI. View Quote https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ice-difficulties-20190319-story.html "It’s a stroke of public relations that officials hope smooths a reputation that last June prompted 19 heads of HSI offices around the country to send a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, requesting that the division break apart from ICE." https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-hsi-letter-kirstjen-nielsen-criminal-civil-deportation-zero-tolerance/ "A majority of ICE’s top criminal investigation agents are asking Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to spin their division off from the agency. In a letter sent last week, 19 special agents in charge at ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit said that ICE’s controversial detention and deportation policies have made it hard for them to conduct investigations into threats to national security, organized crime, narcotics smuggling and human trafficking. " |
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It's my understanding that they are. What I've read is maybe 6 months. The test was processed quickly, though the invitation might have been generated automatically. Really only concerned with the poly since it's got a 2/3rds rate of failure. Although, things might a little hectic if my bosses find out since they tend to just fire people when it's found they are looking elsewhere. But, I tell myself, why stay somewhere like that anyway. The pay is way less then I currently make so it will be a hardship for a couple years. Luckily, my wife can work anywhere she wants. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Quoted: Do it. It'll take a year to navigate through the process anyway |
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Quoted: While your probably right, I do know two SA guys who were hired on without degrees. They did come from the .mil though. View Quote @Michael. I'm not sure what your area of interest may or what particular Federal LE training you have - but if you really don't care what agency you work for, don't neglect other Federal LEO jobs like DOD OIG, AFOSI, DSS, Army CID, NCIS, Forestry Service LE&I, etc. Almost every major U.S. department/agency has their own version of an OIG unit that will look into crimes involving that particular agency. You could even go ATF, but I think you're required to resign your AR15.com membership if so, I could be wrong. |
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I don't suppose that I can use the CBPO entrance exam for BPA?
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@Michael. I'm not sure what your area of interest may or what particular Federal LE training you have - but if you really don't care what agency you work for, don't neglect other Federal LEO jobs like DOD OIG, AFOSI, DSS, Army CID, NCIS, Forestry Service LE&I, etc. Almost every major U.S. department/agency has their own version of an OIG unit that will look into crimes involving that particular agency. You could even go ATF, but I think you're required to resign your AR15.com membership if so, I could be wrong. View Quote |
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DSS just had an announcement last Fall... they're finally getting to the interviews now. I wouldn't expect to see another announcement for at least a year.
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Different entrance exam, SI, and PT. Everything else will transfer over. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I don't suppose that I can use the CBPO entrance exam for BPA? Quoted:
They typically only put out an announcement once a year and it's a bit of a shit show. |
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