Border Patrol Agents in Demand

NOW RECRUITING
Border Patrol Agents

The U.S. Border Patrol is hiring agents to work for the Nations’ largest single border agency, protecting the American people from terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal entry to our country. Responsible for guarding nearly 7,000 miles of land border the United States shares with Canada and Mexico, and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the Florida peninsula and off the coast of Southern California, 20,000 Border Patrol Agents are on duty day and night—protecting our way of life.

Duties: One of the most important activities of a Border Patrol Agent is line-watch. This involves the detection, prevention, and apprehension of undocumented aliens and smugglers of aliens at or near the land border by maintaining surveillance from a covert position, following up leads, responding to electronic sensor alarms, infrared scopes during night operations, low light level television systems, aircraft sightings, and interpreting and following tracks, marks and other physical evidence. Some of the other major activities are farm and ranch checks, traffic check, traffic observation, city patrol, transportation check, administrative, intelligence, and anti-smuggling activities.

Key requirements of the Border Patrol Agent position:

• Must be a U.S. citizen and possess a valid state driver’s license
• No convictions for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
• U.S. residency or its protectorates or territories for the last three years
• Pass a thorough background investigation, medical examination, fitness test and drug test

Where are the positions being filled? South Texas, West Texas/New Mexico, Arizona and California

What is the starting salary? The GL-5 salary is $38,619 per year depending on the location of the position. If you meet the qualification requirements based on your education or experience, you may be able to enter the position at the higher GL-7 ($43,964 salary) level.

Mandatory Training: Border Patrol Agent interns are detailed to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, NM for approximately 11 weeks of intensive instruction in immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement and Border Patrol-specific operations, drivers training, physical techniques, firearms, and other courses. Soon after arriving at the Academy, all students are tested in their language abilities. Those who score below an established benchmark are assigned to an additional 8-week Spanish class at the Border Patrol Academy which will extend their stay to 19 weeks, while the fluent Spanish speakers who successfully complete the 11-week program report back to their duty stations. Upon successful completion of the Academy training, all interns begin the Field Training Program (FTP) and the Post Academy Training Program (PATP) at their stations and sectors. The FTP will consist of on-the-job, hands-on training with an experienced agent. The PATP is a combination of web-based training and instructor led training and will require the intern to successfully pass seven unit exams.

The intern’s progress through both programs and job performance is evaluated by review panels at 12 months and 20 months after entering on duty. If the intern’s progress remains satisfactory through the 24th month, s/he is no longer an intern and is converted to a permanent appointment. Failure to successfully complete the 24-month internship will result in termination of employment.

For more information about this position, the qualifications, and the pre-employment requirements, go to www.cbp.gov click on Careers, and then Click on Border Patrol Agent.