WHICH ONE WOULD YOU WORK FOR IF YOU WERE GETTING OUT OF THE USAF ?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - WHICH ONE WOULD YOU WORK FOR IF YOU WERE GETTING OUT OF THE USAF ?

Posted: 2/26/2007 3:51:51 PM EDT

I have 5 more year left in my second enlistment in the USAF as a K9 Handler and I have considered applying to become a Diplomatic Security Special Agent or a USSS agent. Which one would you choose and why, I'm recently divorced worldwide qualified and have a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, working on my Masters. All responses appreciated.

SFK9handler

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:00:43 PM EDT

[#1]

USSS. What, you don't want to stay at Malmstrom. My first TDY was from Minot to Malmstrom in January. Niiiice

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:11:36 PM EDT

[#2]

Do you get to bring your partner with you?

An d what type of a K-9 unit ?

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:13:44 PM EDT

[#3]

No, I hate Malmstrom to GD cold for me. No, the dog stays with the military until he's retired. I'm a Explosive Detection K9 Handler.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:19:27 PM EDT

[#4]

US Border Patrol

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:19:59 PM EDT

[#5]

United States Secret Service.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:23:18 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
.....and have a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, working on my Masters.
SFK9handler

Any chance of you becoming an officer in AF? I'd jump at that if I had the chance.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:38:35 PM EDT

[#7]

A guy that went thru the Phx PD academy with me is now with DSS.

He was in Haiti when it blew up. I think it would actually be a better move than USSS, where the odds are you'll be assigned crappy details until you get about 20 years in.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:42:59 PM EDT

[#8]

Fine by me, just looking for more adventure, I haven't deployed in almost 4 years. It's one of the reasons I re-trained into K9 b/c of the hight Ops tempo. What kind of K9 do you have, I'm assuming your are a Civilian PD handler. Narcotics or Explosives.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:46:54 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
US Border Patrol

Quit pimping the Border Patrol in every post man.

If you want to be a K9 Officer, I can tell you where not to go. Don't go CBP. They haven't hired dedicated dog handlers since 2003. The old Customs Service, and the Old INS use to hire them off the streets, now you need time in service, and its something you apply for after a few years in.

I wouldn't go with the USSS either. I've heard stories from junior agents as well as Marines who have delt with them. Not to flattering. But your mileage may vary.

ETA: Someone mention DSSA. I can't comment on their K9 handlers, but a coworker of mine left our agency to do over there, and he loves his job.

Posted: 2/26/2007 4:51:22 PM EDT

[#10]

Not looking to be a K9 handler with either agency, just a Special Agent. The DSS has military handlers do their detection work and the USSS utilizes us as well but they do have Uniformed Division K9 handlers. I'll have about 12 years Military Law Enforcement experience and about 6 year Civilian LEO experience when I'm done.

Posted: 2/26/2007 5:10:33 PM EDT

[#11]

DoJ Crime Lab...?

Posted: 2/26/2007 6:43:39 PM EDT

[#12]

How about Customs? Airport work...air-conditioned at least some of the time?

Posted: 2/26/2007 6:51:52 PM EDT

[#13]

USSS is more glamorous according to Hollywood but it is mostly very boring duty, unless you are chasing down counterfeiters. Imagine standing eight hours a day outside of a meeting room. There are long periods of boredom and then brief periods of excitement and a grueling schedule during campaigns - just how grueling largely depends on the candidate and how likely he is to make sudden changes in plan. If your protectee is a "people person", you will have to take high blood pressure pills by the handfuls.

Diplomatic Security is probably more exciting, but it doesn't look as good on a resume.

There are more good choices than just the two you listed.

I hired a man who was USAF Security for awhile. He got burned out with the travel and he had to quit because his wife had a baby. He was top notch, excellent shot, very familiar with security procedures. I don't know what USSS pays, but he got paid 100 dollars per hour on contract assignments. I got tired of dealing with personnel issues awhile back, so no, I'm not hiring at the present time.

Posted: 2/26/2007 8:00:03 PM EDT

[#14]

I'm putting in for DS next time around. I'm also a former SP.

I used to work with USSS occasionally, and I've talked to a couple DS guys. I get the impression that there are many more lateral opportunities in DS-intel, ct, investigations, psd stuff, physical security, tracking down American fugitives in foreign locales. USSS SAs concentrate more on psd and some investigation. The USSS guys also work their asses off on psd compared to DS. I remember being posted with one Secret Service agent, smoking hot chick on the POTUS detail, who'd worked the last 22 days straight, 12-16 hours a day. DS would, of course, involve far more overseas postings vs. shorter deployments for USSS.

just my .02. I'll restate that all of these are impressions and I would appreciate any other input or corrections.

Also, if you'll have 18 years of experience when you seperate I'm assuming you'll be 36. ~~37 is the cut-off for both agencies. Dunno if it's waverable.~~ It ain't.

Posted: 2/26/2007 8:12:37 PM EDT

[#15]

Diplomatic Security - Protect dirtbags politicians from somewhere else?

Secret Service - Protect dirtbag politicians from here?

Is there an option to chew on rusty razor blades instead?

Posted: 2/26/2007 10:41:59 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Diplomatic Security - Protect dirtbags politicians from somewhere else?

Secret Service - Protect dirtbag politicians from here?

Is there an option to chew on rusty razor blades instead?

Both do more than protect people. I think tracking down counterfeiters would be interesting.

Posted: 2/26/2007 10:47:38 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
USSS is more glamorous according to Hollywood but it is mostly very boring duty, unless you are chasing down counterfeiters. Imagine standing eight hours a day outside of a meeting room. There are long periods of boredom and then brief periods of excitement and a grueling schedule during campaigns - just how grueling largely depends on the candidate and how likely he is to make sudden changes in plan. If your protectee is a "people person", you will have to take high blood pressure pills by the handfuls.

+1

I knew a guy that joined the SS for the glamour of it all and ended up actually protecting the POTUS...but it wasn't what he thought it would be. He said there were days where he could just barely take it...he would be sitting in the back stairway of some hotel the POTUS was staying at and his only job was to make sure nobody came up that fire escape/stairway...all day long, "I went to college for this?"....

Posted: 2/27/2007 1:51:20 AM EDT

[#18]

Have you given any thought to OSI? I have worked with more USSS agents, but Diplomatic Security has impressed the most. I had a conditional offer with Diplomatic Security but my wife asked me not to follow through with the process.

Posted: 2/27/2007 2:06:22 AM EDT

[#19]

I would vote DS, very interesting opportunites. The biggest hurdle is your age. Even if you have a degree and lots of experience, 37 is a hard and fast birthday, for pretty much all federal LE positions, even with 12 years federal service outside of LE.

Ask me how I know

Posted: 2/27/2007 2:09:56 AM EDT

[#20]

Getting out before 20.

I'll not hear such talk.

J/K.

Either one sounds good.

Posted: 2/27/2007 2:19:54 AM EDT

[#21]

Definitely try for Customs & Border Patrol.
Let the good-looking college girls returning from spring break pet the cute puppy while he's sniffing their bags for pot.

Kharn

Posted: 2/27/2007 2:39:45 AM EDT

[#22]

I take it you are trying to avoid giving half your retirement to your ex? I would do the same thing, it's the only way I would even consider bailing out before 20. I would recommend DSS myself, you could always apply for a civilian OSI slot too.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - WHICH ONE WOULD YOU WORK FOR IF YOU WERE GETTING OUT OF THE USAF ?

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