BP exam

[Cpl. Haas]

what kind of questions do they ask you at the interview? I take my test in dec and do they even look at your resume?

I've been told applicants sign a non-disclosure agreement, so I wouldn't expect anyone who's taken it to give you an answer.

From HonorFirst.com:

Q. What kind of stuff will they throw at us at the Oral Boards?

A. Sorry, but I can't go into that. I have been trained as an Oral Board officer and I feel that any info I give out would be a conflict of interest. Generally, you are given situations that test how you respond to dangerous or stressful situations and you are expected to produce a suitable response in a short time frame. The agents want to know what YOU would do in these situations, not what you think THEY want to hear. You will not be tricked. The orals are designed to examine your decision making ability, emotional maturity and interpersonal skills. (Note: webmaster makes coughing noise, stamps foot three times and taps the blackboard.). Unless you desire to be held up to public ridicule, DO NOT ask agents or applicants who have been to the orals to divulge actual scenarios from the oral boards. They will not do it. When you go to the orals, you, too, will be asked to sign a non-disclosure form.

I too am curious whether the interview will consist entirely of scenario questions, or if they're going to ask me questions about my background, resume, and interest in Border Patrol as well. From what I've read, they don't ask for your OF-612 or resume... but I'm going to bring it anyway since they asked for it.

[Double_tap]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to tell you guys I have passed my CBP exam and my score was 85. I am not sure if that score is included with my military service or not. We were told veterans get 5 addition points. I am one stop closer to achieving my dream. My dream is to become a U.S. Marine, earn a college degree, and become a Border Patrol. I just received my AA business degree and I already served my country as a Machine gunner in the corps. I just have one more goal left. I hope CBP takes interest in me and gives me a chance to proof myself to them.

congratulations, and though it may carry little or no weight from a complete stranger on the internet, I am proud of you and your accomplishments.
I have a very dear friend who is a veteran border patrol agent, I've been on two seperate ride alongs with him in the last 3 years, and i can tell you its not only an exciting job, but you'll be working with an extremely committed and honorable group of men and women who are truly committed to laying their life on the line for the safety of our country. Both times i rode along with him i was extremely impressed by that fact that all the agents i spoke with were truly committed to doing their jobs to the best of their ability, and it hurts them to the core when the bad guys occasionally get through the system of "defense in depth".
case in point, the last ride along i did the CBP had intelligence that a very large biker rally would be taking place near lake murray and they were looking foward to stopping the flow of money and weapons back south across the border that would happen when all the gang members exchanged with one another at the rally. apparently the bikers got wind of the check points and ended up meeting at an unknown location and the CBP was not able to interveine and stop the exchange. every single agent that day mentioned some kind of comment along the lines of "man, think of all the guns and money that made it back across into mexico" and each one of them said it in a truly sad inflection in their voice.
the sad fact of the matter is that the media and certain special interest groups like to paint the border patrol agents as cowboys and racists. My friend the supervisor who is now in training, tells each and every one of his new interns "if you want hugs and parades, be a fireman, if you want to actually stand toe to toe with some of the ugliest elements of society and risk your life daily for the sake of making a difference, your in the right place."
congratulations to you and i wish you a safe and rewarding career, which im sure you will have given your history of service with the marine corps.

my hats off to you and all the other CBP agents here on calguns.

[meangreen46]

I've been told applicants sign a non-disclosure agreement, so I wouldn't expect anyone who's taken it to give you an answer.
And they have DQ'd applicants for this before. The Patrol takes this stuff really seriously. They fire trainees/interns at the academy for sharing study guides amongst different classes. (i.e. class 989 takes their ImmLaw 2 test and passes off a study guide they made to class 990. "Study Guide" can be as simple as an outline of the chapters on the test. It doesn't have to be actual answers)

I too am curious whether the interview will consist entirely of scenario questions, or if they're going to ask me questions about my background, resume, and interest in Border Patrol as well.
Obviously, I won't go into too much detail, but I will tell you this.....It is not like any other LE oral board you have had. It is designed to make you think and respond appropriately. Unlike other oral boards where it's the same questions over and over. I don't know anybody who ever came out of their BP oral boards and said, "I aced that!" You will think you either just made the cut or you utterly failed it.

From what I've read, they don't ask for your OF-612 or resume... but I'm going to bring it anyway since they asked for it.
Good idea. If you should know anything about the process (or the Patrol in general), it should be that being prompt and organized will put you out in front of the other candidates. If they say to be somewhere at 10:00.....be there at 9:30. If they want a copy of a paper, bust open your folder where you keep your copies. Likewise, if you are late or show up without something or look sloppy, they will notice that too. Trust me....it will be written down somewhere for the next person to see.

Generally, you are given situations that test how you respond to dangerous or stressful situations and you are expected to produce a suitable response in a short time frame. The agents want to know what YOU would do in these situations, not what you think THEY want to hear. You will not be tricked.
This is very very important to remember. They will not try messing you up or tricking you into a false answer. Again, I won't go into too much detail, but they will ask whatever they want during the interview. They do have a "script" of questions, but they will ask "regular" interview type questions as well. Don't get nervous and make eye contact with everybody there. Just as in any interview, THINK before you speak. The guy who posted on Honorfirst was dead on. They only want to make sure you are mature enough to make a reasonable decision and you can think on your toes.

Some of the PA's you will see at the boards will be working right next to you when you get out in the field. So....they have a vested interest in who gets to the next step in the process. If somebody acts like a knucklehead or answers, "Just shoot them".......they won't be going any further. Hope this little bit helps you guys.

[rugershooter]

Unless it has changed, I think all you have to bring is Yourself and ID. Wear a suit. I know the last one should go without saying, but you would be surprised what people show up in.

Just got my OB scheduled for 11/9. I've also done two ride alongs with the El Cajon station. I'd definitely recommend a ride along to anyone who's in the hiring process, it's very informative.

And yeah, you'd be surprised if you saw what people wear to things like that. When I took the test, people showed up in pajamas. I'm completely serious, they wore PJs.

[Sam1]

great responses guys, thank you!

Just got my OB scheduled for 11/9. I've also done two ride alongs with the El Cajon station. I'd definitely recommend a ride along to anyone who's in the hiring process, it's very informative.

And yeah, you'd be surprised if you saw what people wear to things like that. When I took the test, people showed up in pajamas. I'm completely serious, they wore PJs.

I'm thinking of wearing a suit to take the test I'm pretty sure everyone else is going to be dressed more casual in flip flops and pjs haha

[meangreen46]

great responses guys, thank you!

I'm thinking of wearing a suit to take the test I'm pretty sure everyone else is going to be dressed more casual in flip flops and pjs haha

I would recommend wearing something comfortable to take the written exam. If you are comfortable in a suit, then by all means. However, you will never see the people giving you the exam ever again. They are usually from OPM (Office of Personel and Mangment) and totally separate from BP. Obviously, no PJ's because if the proctor has a wild hair up his butt, he could tell you to leave or flag your test. I think I remember wearing a polo and khakis since the last thing I wanted to be fussing with was an uncomfortable stiff colar.

BTW - Side story - When I was at the academy, we would see the new guys arrive by bus every week. This guy got off the bus and had Leopard Spotted hair (bright blonde hair with black spots)!! I knew one of the instructors that was "welcoming" them off the bus. He was a ex Marine Drill Instructor and looked every bit of it too. It was fun watching this guy get his a@@ singled out and handed to him.

There is a moral to this story that relates to the PJs. If you want to be "that guy"......You will. The more you stay off their radar, the better. Blend in and do your best. Being "that guy" gets you "special attention".

Another quick story: They tell you to be at sector for your first day at a certain time and that if you are late, you will be turned away and essentially have no job. A trainee/intern showed up fifteen minutes late for his first day and was told to go home. The trainee went back to his hotel, called his parents who told him to call his state representative. The representative called Washington DC who called sector who called the training unit. Long story short, he was allowed back into the class the next day. Guess what this guy ended up being......"that guy" and on the very first day of being employed. He was "that guy" in the academy because when they got off the bus, the intructor asked, "Who's the guy the showed up late to sector?". News travels fast....and first impressions are critical. The guy from this story has never lived it down and it followed him all the way back to his duty station.

[rugershooter]

Definitely wear a suit. I wore one, and only saw a few other people wearing one. Probably less than 10 out of about 80 people taking the test.

[Alaric]

I think word is now out on the suit at orals. In my recent exam, almost everyone was wearing a suit. The one guy who was wearing wrinkled khakis and a polo also had a nice shiner to match. Something tells me he didn't make the cut.

[Digital_Boy]

As far as the initial written test, I was wearing a dress shirt, khaki slacks and lace up shoes. I saw the gamut from suit and tie to polos and khakis, t-shirt and jeans, and a few people in sweats/tracksuits. No one was turned away or asked to leave. But then again, this was the entrance test.

My oral board is scheduled for this coming week, and since my field of work (telecomm/IT/electronics) is very much a casual dress environment, I was without a business suit. I've since been to Men's Wearhouse, Ross and Nordstrom Rack to get suitable attire for the oral board.

I had planned on wearing a suit to the oral board regardless, so this just reaffirms my choice to do so.

[Digital_Boy]

Definitely wear a suit. I wore one, and only saw a few other people wearing one. Probably less than 10 out of about 80 people taking the test.

At the initial written test? Seems like overkill since OPM aren't there to screen like they are at the boards or poly.

[rugershooter]

At the initial written test? Seems like overkill since OPM aren't there to screen like they are at the boards or poly.

Could be overkill. I didn't know the proctors would be from OPM. When I took the exam for the Sheriff's Department, the proctors and everyone else involved were deputies. All else being equal, I'd rather make the best first impression possible since I don't know when/if I'm going to meet BP agents while doing something such as taking the test.
When did you take the test, btw? I took mine on September 02.

[Alaric]

I was shocked at the initial test. No, it was wasn't the manner of dress. Most were in casual business attire. It was the fact that probably 10% of the guys there looked like gang bangers (dressed incognito, etc.) but they still stood out. There's not much you can do to effectively hide gang tats on your neck, or knuckles or tatted teardrops under your eyes. I wonder if their tests were flagged or if they get vetted out later. I also wonder if they all get vetted out before training. Seems like playing the law of averages one or two might get through.

Makes me want to try that much harder to get in, assuming from what I've seen that the cartels are so brazenly trying to infiltrate the USBP.

I tested in San Diego. Did anyone else see anything like this?

[Recession]

I was shocked at the initial test. No, it was wasn't the manner of dress. Most were in casual business attire. It was the fact that probably 10% of the guys there looked like gang bangers (dressed incognito, etc.) but they still stood out. There's not much you can do to effectively hide gang tats on your neck, or knuckles or tatted teardrops under your eyes. I wonder if their tests were flagged or if they get vetted out later. I also wonder if they all get vetted out before training. Seems like playing the law of averages one or two might get through.

Makes me want to try that much harder to get in, assuming from what I've seen that the cartels are so brazenly trying to infiltrate the USBP.

I tested in San Diego. Did anyone else see anything like this?

I tested in Ontario. Every single person in the room looked like a banger, but it turns out they were all current and former Marines. Don't judge a book by it's cover.

Oh and the whole wearing a suit to the written exam, don't do it, you'll be the one that stands out. A suit wont get you extra bonus points on your exam. OPM is there to administer the test, not to look for qualified candidates. Just look presentable.

[4Defense]

Didn't the military recruited a whole bunch of gang bangers?

For the guys that tested and about to go for the oral interview, for god's sake please know what the hell you applied for.

Geezzzzz man!

You applied for "BP"=Border Patrol=Border Patrol Agent=Green uniform

You did not applied for "CBP"= Customs And Border Protection=Customs And Border Protection Officer=Blue uniform

Eventhough, both fall under The Department of Homeland Security but both are separate agencies.

And if you're still confused, I suggest you start watching "Border Wars".

[BoJackUSMC]

ahhhh, its been 12 days so far and no TO package for me yet....
getting little sad here, hope I received the package very soon.