Hi, I have two main questions, and several smaller ones. I'll start with some background on me -- I'm 27 years old, have a degree in organic chemistry but currently work as a pilot for a regional airline flying 50-seat jets. I love flying but I also have always been interested in law enforcement since I was a girl. I'm currently a captain and making fairly good coin but I may be downgraded back down to first officer / co-pilot due to reductions in our fleet and staffing in the next few months (while others less senior to me are going to be laid off completely) and thought this might be a good time to make a career change since I'll be most likely taking a paycut in a couple of months anyway.
Do many federal law enforcement agencies hire criminal investigators / special agents that have no previous law enforcement experience? I've never had any other job besides flying airplanes, except for when I worked at the GAP when I was in high school. I do have good grades from when I did go to college but I'm sure I've forgotten 50% of the chemistry I should have known. I am bilingual (English, Japanese) and I'm trying to learn Korean but am nowhere near fluent yet. I am a FFDO but the training was more like a week summer camp, but maybe it might be nice on the resume?
First question is: How do my qualifications look for an agency like the FBI or USSS? I've seen openings for air interdiction agents in CPB/ICE but most of the time they want time in type which means former-military pilots considering the aircraft they fly. Do other agencies have flying positions similar to this?
Second question: About the BI and more of the agency culture... I'm gay -- people would not know it from looking me -- I wear dresses, I don't walk in parades or rub it in anyone's face but at the same time I don't try to hide it either. So if/when I get interviewed I'm sure it will come out when they ask if I have (and can they talk to) my boyfriend/husband and I correct them. My question is... what do federal agencies feel about this subject? Airlines are kind of paramilitary organizations so I just rarely speak about my personal life at work but organizations like the FBI, USSS or DEA have even more conservative reputations so I dunno if that will be sufficient.
Do many federal law enforcement agencies hire criminal investigators / special agents that have no previous law enforcement experience? I've never had any other job besides flying airplanes, except for when I worked at the GAP when I was in high school. I do have good grades from when I did go to college but I'm sure I've forgotten 50% of the chemistry I should have known. I am bilingual (English, Japanese) and I'm trying to learn Korean but am nowhere near fluent yet. I am a FFDO but the training was more like a week summer camp, but maybe it might be nice on the resume?
First question is: How do my qualifications look for an agency like the FBI or USSS? I've seen openings for air interdiction agents in CPB/ICE but most of the time they want time in type which means former-military pilots considering the aircraft they fly. Do other agencies have flying positions similar to this?
Second question: About the BI and more of the agency culture... I'm gay -- people would not know it from looking me -- I wear dresses, I don't walk in parades or rub it in anyone's face but at the same time I don't try to hide it either. So if/when I get interviewed I'm sure it will come out when they ask if I have (and can they talk to) my boyfriend/husband and I correct them. My question is... what do federal agencies feel about this subject? Airlines are kind of paramilitary organizations so I just rarely speak about my personal life at work but organizations like the FBI, USSS or DEA have even more conservative reputations so I dunno if that will be sufficient.
Comment