Employment With The Federal Bureau of  

By

********

4 Feb. 2002 

Water Valley High School

Mrs. Irby

Acc. English IV

I. Requirements/Qualifications
          A. Qualifications
                    1. United States citizen

                    2. Available for assignment anywhere under FBI jurisdiction
                    3. Between 23 and 37 years of age
                    4. Possess a valid driver's license
                    5. Be physically able to perform all essential functions
                    6. Bachelor's degree from accredited four-year university or college
          B. Disqualifiers
                    1. Conviction of a felony
                    2. Use of illegal drugs
                    3. Default of student loan
                    4. Failure of a urinalysis drug test
                    5. Failure to register with the Selective Service System
          C. Special Agent Selection and Application Process
                    1. Preliminary Application
                    2. Special Agent Qualifications Questionnaire 
                    3. Applicant Background Survey 
                    4. Phase I Testing
                    5. Application for Employment
                    6. Phase II Testing
                    7. Final Screening Process
II. Job details/duties
          A. Training/First Assignment
                    1. FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia
                              a 16 week training stint
                              b. Physical fitness training
                              c. Tactics and investigations lessons
                              d. Firearms training
                              e. Tests and exams
                              f. Special Agent status upon completion
                    2. First assignment
          B. The job
                    1. Duties
                    2. Tasks
                    3. Specialized functions
III. Benefits
          A. Benefits
                    1. Paid vacation
                    2. Health and Life insurance
                    3. Health and wellness services
          B. Salary
          C. Retirement

Employment With The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of the largest and most prestigious law enforcement agencies in the world. It is a job that is both physically and mentally challenging, with a wide variety of tasks, duties, and positions. In a career with the FBI, there is opportunity for worldwide travel, for working with professional people, and a sense of job satisfaction that is unique to the law enforcement community.

A career with the FBI begins with actually applying for it. But before being considered for employment, one must first meet several minimum requirements. The applicant must be a citizen of the US of at least twenty-three years of age, but younger than thirty-seven, and hold a valid driver’s license. If chosen, the applicant must be willing to be assigned anywhere within FBI jurisdiction. Also, the applicant must be

Additionally, there are four entrance programs that the applicant must qualify under: Law, Accounting, Language, and Diversified. In the Law program, the applicant needs a J.D. degree from an accredited law school. Under the Accounting program, a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting or related major and be eligible for the CPA. The Language program requires a bachelor’s in any field, fluency in a language desired by the Bureau, and passing a language aptitude exam. A bachelor’s degree and three years full time work, or an advanced degree and two years full time work are all that are required for the Diversified program. (FBI SASP n. pag.)

There are a few qualities that are not desired, and are in fact grounds for immediate exclusion from being considered for a job as a Special Agent. The use of illegal drugs as defined by the FBI Employment Drug Policy or the failure of a urinary drug test will not be tolerated, though there are a few provisions to past use. The sale of illegal narcotics for profit at any time will result in the applicant being "found unsuitable for employment." Evasion of federally insured student loans, or not signing of for Selective Service are also grounds for disqualification of applicant status. (FBI SASP n. pag.)

After the minimum qualifications have been met and dealt with, the Special Agent Selection and Application Process begins. This process consists of seven steps: the Preliminary Application, the Special Agent Qualifications Questionnaire, an Applicant Background Survey, Phase I Testing, Application for Employment, Phase II Testing, and the final screening process. (FBI SASP Started. n. pag.) During the application process, the candidate must be completely truthful, or face prohibition from employment. If any intentionally false declarations or information is discovered after employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigations has begun, then the "employee may be subject to inquiry and suitable administrative or disciplinary action up to and including dismissal." (FBI SASP Started. n. pag.)

Once the applicant has passed all the tests and requirements, he then becomes a Special Agent trainee. The trainee will attend sixteen weeks of "intensive training at one of the world's finest law enforcement training facilities, the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia." (FBI SASP Started. n. pag.) At the Academy, the trainee "will study a wide variety of academic and investigative topics and also receive intensive training in physical fitness, defensive tactics, practical application exercises, and the use of firearms." (FBI SASP Started. n. pag.) All courses and training elements for Special Agent positions must be passed to graduate.

Newly appointed Agents will be assigned to a post based on staffing needs, crucial skills, and if possible personal preference. During the early months of what is generally a four year posting, an Agent will be tutored and guided in applying lessons from the Academy by a veteran Special Agent. (FBI SAE/V First n. pag)

As a Special Agent with the FBI, the primary investigative body of the US government, the job scope is quite broad, covering over two-hundred-sixty federal statutes. (FBI SAE/V General n. pag.) Investigations by the FBI cover a range of crimes, from white-collar crime, organized crime, and public corruption, to air piracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies liaison with the FBI on investigations of joint interest and jurisdiction. (FBI SAE/V General n. pag.)

As with any job, the FBI offers many benefits with the purpose "of maintaining our employee's health, morale, and efficiency at a very high level." (FBI Benefits n. pag.) Annual paid leave is approved for vacations, rest, or personal reasons. Leave is allowed for jury duty, witness duty, military service, and voting. If an employee of family member is sick, or in need of a visit to a health care professional, sick leave is then granted. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) Annual leave accumulates over time at a rate dependant on time in government employ, starting at four hours every two weeks up to thirteen days a year, and going up to a rate of eight hours or twenty-six days after fifteen years of service. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) As a federal agency, the FBI recognizes ten federal holidays and paid leave is standard for those days. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) After working for at least one full year, an employee is eligible for twelve weeks of unpaid leave due to the birth and care of a child, adoption of a child, care of a family member with serious medical condition, or a serious medical condition that prevents the employee from performing his or her full duties. (FBI Benefits n. pag.)

For maternity reasons, a female employee may take a leave of absence generally not more than six months. When physically incapacitated and under doctor’s supervision, the employee is charged with sick leave. Annual leave or annual leave and unpaid leave are charged once put of a doctor’s care. A male employee may take up to five days of sick leave, with an additional eight for certain circumstances, to help in the care of a newborn or other children. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) An employee may use up to forty hours, or five days of sick leave in the event of a family illness or death, or to arrange and attend a family member’s funeral. Under certain circumstances, and additional sixty-four hours may be allowed. (FBI Benefits n. pag.)

All employees of the FBI are now covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, which is plan consisting of Social Security, the Thrift Savings Plan, and a basic annual benefit. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) Retirement benefits come into affect after five years of federal employment. Service and age requirements must be made before an employee can retire. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) Prior military or government service can be counted towards service requirements. Agents have the option to retire at age fifty after twenty years of service or at any age after twenty-five years of service. There is a mandatory retirement age no later than the end of the month of the agent’s fifty-seventh birthday. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) When an employee retires from government service, he or she receives a basic annual benefit based on time served and salary earned. Full Social Security benefits are available to all agents. (FBI Benefits n. pag.)

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is similar to may 401(k) plans available in the civilian markets in that it is a tax-deferred savings and investment plan. All employees are able to contribute up to ten percent of their salary into their TSP on top of the one- percent amount contributed automatically by the FBI. Contributions of up to three percent will be matched by the FBI dollar for dollar and fifty cents on the dollar for the next two percent. (FBI Benefits n. pag.)

Health care is given to all employees located within the US at Health Care Programs Units, or similar facilities. They provide diagnosis and treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses, ass well as immunizations, and health screenings. Educational courses are given to help improve the health of employees. (FBI Benefits n. pag.) Due to the stressful nature of work with the FBI, a no-cost voluntary program, called the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offers assessment, referral and short-term counseling for agents and immediate family. (FBI Benefits n. pag.)

One of the major benefits from working for the US government is the occasion to enroll in federal life and health insurance benefits programs including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI). (FBI Benefits n. pag.) The FEHBP offers all permanent FBI employees the chance to register for an approved group health benefits plan, either the Government-wide Service Benefit Plan (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), Comprehensive Plans or health maintenance organizations (HMO), or Employee Organization Plans (fee-for-service plans). (FBI Benefits n. pag.) All employees, and optionally an agents spouse and children, are covered under FEGLI Basic Life Insurance. Coverage is equal to annual basic pay, rounded up to the next thousand dollars, with an additional two thousand dollars added. It also includes accidental death and Dismemberment plans. There are optional funds that may be joined that pay if the employee or agent dies under employ of the Bureau.

Works Cited

Farr, Michael J. "Police, Detectives, and Special Agents." America’s Top Jobs for College Graduates. 2nd Ed. JIST Works, Inc. Indianapolis. 1997.

"FBI Employment: Benefits." Online. Internet. 16 Feb. 2002. Available: http://www.fbi.gov/employment/benefits.htm.

"FBI Employment: Special Agent Employment/Vacancies-First Assignment." Online. Internet. 16 Feb. 2002. Available: http://www.fbi.gov/employment/agent1.htm.

"FBI Employment: Special Agent Employment/Vacancies-General Information." Online. Internet. 16 Feb. 2002. Available: http://www.fbi.gov/employment/agent.htm.

"FBI Special Agent Selection Process: General Information." Applicant Information Booklet. Revised Sept. 1997. Online. Internet. 16 Feb. 2002. Available: http://www.fbi.gov/employment/booklet/general.htm.

"FBI Special Agent Selection Process: Your Guide to Getting Started." Applicant Information Booklet. Revised Sept. 1997. Online. Internet. 16 Feb. 2002. Available: http://www.fbi.gov/employment/booklet/started.htm.

"Federal Bureau of Investigations: Special Agent." Offline. Internet. 14 Feb. 2002.

United States. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington: GPO, 1998.