Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)

[tpearce71]

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/fy2018-homeland-security-appropriations-bill-released

[Black Ops]

Not sure if that is positive news on the link, that shows the new FY18 budget to be $799m, were that would actually be a reduction from FY16 of $804m and FY 17 of $814m. If they don't get the funds they are asking for do they have leftover money from previous budget. That worries me.

[Gotcha8402]

Doesn't look good man.... doesn't look like a hiring freeze tho so that's a positive. They hired people off the budget from last year so we shall see. I want to know when the budget takes into effect....

[tpearce71]

FY17 enacted budget was 802,953.

Per Explanatory statement:

OTHER OPERATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT Federal Air Marshals.—The Committee recommends $799,361,000 for the Federal Air Marshals [FAMS], which is $4,544,000 below the budget request amount due to a number of unfilled FTE funded in fiscal year 2017. Funding is included for FAMS to continue protection of the air transportation system against terrorist threats, sabotage, or other acts of violence. The Committee directs TSA to continue submitting quarterly reports on mission coverage, staffing levels, and hiring rates as it has done in prior years.

[bellyer]

Wait, so I have to admit that I am confused. So, it is being recommended that the FAMS budget should be cut by $4.5 million because they did not hire as many people last year as they were supposed to? Are they also recommending that FAMS continue hiring based on current funding?

[Gotcha8402]

FY17 enacted budget was 802,953.

Per Explanatory statement:

OTHER OPERATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT Federal Air Marshals.—The Committee recommends $799,361,000 for the Federal Air Marshals [FAMS], which is $4,544,000 below the budget request amount due to a number of unfilled FTE funded in fiscal year 2017. Funding is included for FAMS to continue protection of the air transportation system against terrorist threats, sabotage, or other acts of violence. The Committee directs TSA to continue submitting quarterly reports on mission coverage, staffing levels, and hiring rates as it has done in prior years.

Im reading that as if they will hire attrition to keep levels staffed... correct me if I'm wrong....

[Black Ops]

That's correct the FY 17 budget was $803m. So that does sound like they were directed to hire more last FY but left positions unfilled? I've never heard an agency not using up all of their allocated funds so they can ask for the same amount the next FY. Do the unused funds for hiring carry over to FY18 or are they returned in some way? Even so the FY18 isn't that far off the previous years budget so I would think they should still have some classes..

[DarthBetrayU]

Next class.... June 2018

[tpearce71]

Any word on how many they are going to bring on??

[bellyer]

June 2018??? Well, I guess I will likely be out of the running then. I think my year of coverage under the Ready Pool runs out in May (although I didn't get my notice of being placed in the pool until July, so I'm not sure).

I thought someone on here had previously posted that there was a class scheduled for March. Where is this Intel on class dates coming from?

[Black Ops]

I talked to HR today and the lady told me they have not recieved a yes or no for any classes. The budget money still has yet to be allocated and they are on hold. So I'm not sure were the June 18 class information is coming from.

[APNG]

Those of you that have gotten your place in line for your field office, can someone pm me with a POC, i emailed HR and have yet to receive anything back (going on day 4) and called and the woman i spoke to just read me info off the Dashboard because she states shes unable to find out what my place in line is.

[bellyer]

I just used the form in the Dashboard site to ask. The e-mail that I received providing me my position in line for the field office I am waiting on was the sent from the general HR e-mail address you can find in the Dashboard site. I never received a direct e-mail from anyone in particular there.

[Gotcha8402]

I thought it was as long as you receive a final offer before your year is up it was fine... Does it go from end of background to class date or end of background to final offer?

[bellyer]

I sure hope it is end of background to final offer. *If* there is any accuracy to that June 2018 class date, I would really hate to get so close only to find that I missed the cutoff. I'm really hoping that they end up scheduling a surprise class or two in the next couple of months and send an offer my way for one of them...

[Gotcha8402]

Someone heard and news?

[tpearce71]

I saw that they have drafted another continuing resolution to fund the government through the holidays...so probably wont hear anything till after January

[Speakezy019]

So I contacted HR today via the email address on the page and this was the response I received regarding hiring for 2018.

“Thank you for contacting the TSA OHCAccess Help Desk.

Federal Air Marshal SV-1801 G Band hiring has been suspended for 2018. You are 5th on the Boston Ready Pool list. You will remain in the Ready Pool up to two years from your Pre-Hire Background clearance date. Your eligibility will expire 6-5-2019. The Ready Pool list and your eligibility will remain, in case the hiring process is re-started, but due to budget considerations it is unlikely hiring will resume for 2018. You will receive another email communication subsequent to this with more information.”

[tpearce71]

Well then...