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One more year to go, lol. Even starting with a Master's that "DHS/Secret Service Special Agent" job posting was only offering like $49/yr!!! ............ you can make 3-6x that as a contractor OCONUS
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Those numbers are deceiving. They so t account for locality pay or administratively uncontrollable overtime. You also usually hum a couple grades in just a couple of years. Don't forget about bonuses for a second language, scoring high on shooting qualifications, physical fitness Etc. Not all have these things but they all have some sort of variation of some of this stuff. Haven't looked much at FBI pay but I know Border Patrol Agents who start at that same low 40 number are rocking six figures after three years.
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Most fed jobs start out with surprisingly low pay, when I was looking at Marshals and Secret Service they made a lot less than a local leo. It takes a while to move up, remember a lot of fed jobs and even some local pds will let you buy your military years back. My buddy is a sky marshal and bought his Marine Corps time back for cheap he'll be retiring at 50 with 30 plus years."People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."Comment
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Pick the department you want to work for and look at their website. Also forums such as officer.com. If there are things like fitness or shooting it's usually small like 50 bucks a month or something but it all adds up. The bigger deal with the Feds is locality pay first and secondly is overtime. Overtime pay just varies by department and the politicians like to play games with it.
With that said though do the job because you want it not because of the pay. Don't get me wrong, don't do it for free but if the wage is livable then you should consider it and anything higher is just cake. If you aren't the right person for the job then even a half mil a year won't change that.
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True. Well, I'll shop around. CYBERCOM wants to hire me too... and it's commutablesigpicComment
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Most departments have non-sworn "Crime Analysts". LASD has them at each station. The ones I know are amazing and incredibly intelligent. They analyze crime trends, data and help in deployment strategies. Might be below your level of expertise and they don't get in on the large threats like terrorism.Knives don't stab people, cars don't drive drunk, eating utensils don't make you fat and pencils don't mis-spell words.Comment
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My advice for you would be to get hired on with an agency first. I would stick federal. If that doesn't tickle your brain then go local or state. Don't get wrapped up with the fact that you come from an Intel background. All that will come into play and be of use once you get hired. If you are looking for more of an Intel gathering/surveillance/investigations type of work I'd go with DEA,FBI,ATF,HSI types of agencies. Those jobs on the other hand do not hire year round. IF you are gearing more towards the hands on law enforcement type work then like Ron-solo said one of the bigger local Departments or state will usually have Intel units but every department varies.
most importantly though is getting hired. Just because of your background does not mean a guarantee hire. All the hoops some agencies make you go through can be a PITA.Last edited by mirage2887; 08-28-2014, 10:01 PM.Comment
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If you switch to the air national guard, you can actually find plenty of intelligence jobs working with the DEA in a program called joint domestic support-counter drug. It's a contract job but all my coworkers are making careers out of it and they are looking for analysts right now. Other than that my department in the Bay Area also has an intelligence unit but again, you must pay your dues first (jails, patrol,...) before you can get in.Comment
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Generally what I've seen is partnership teams between local/state/federal LE formed into a unit, eg FBI, local sheriffs sitting in an office with clearances so information can be assessed with less regard to agency boundaries.
To be assigned one would need to be a LEO with good standing on one if the agencies (already stated) and generally have special skills applicable to intelligence centers objectives (eg terrorism, cyber crime, etc)
For example here in OC there is the Orange County intelligence assessment center
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"Agency position v. Contracting?"
Dept/agency employee is more stable and likely has more benefits. You likely have some sort of civil service job security. You are going to have additional opportunities inside the agency. If you get fried after 3-5 on a task force, you can come back inside and work patrol, investigations, traffic,...etc. In a local agency (not fed) you will know what geographical region (city or county) you will be working for your career. May not seem significant at 22 years old but when it comes to settling down and family, it becomes huge. If you are a local and make it out to a task force then funding drops, you come on back to patrol.
Contractors probably pay more but are subject to change. Likely hood of relocation and travel are possible depending on the job. Contracts can go to another provider or get cut which would have a detrimental effect on your continuous employment stream. Or you piss off a boss and find your contract doesn't get picked up next year.Comment
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Ain't that the truth, lol, we just had a new contractor get hired on a couple weeks ago and his company lost the contract last week....sigpicComment
Is there anywhere I can read about this?
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