Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)

[darkhorse6]

FWIW... Forget all logic or reasoning when discussing the hiring process of a federal agency. It’s much easier to maintain your sanity that way. It appears that certain groups are randomly getting emails at certain times so patience will have to be the winner of this race.

[Sam Ryan]

Passed the FAB today... I’m by no means a PT stud so what are the odds of getting picked up with poor and very poor ratings for the PAT? I’m not super out of shape or anything but the PT standards are surprisingly very tight. Thanks for any insight in advance.

[Anthropologist]

I'm accustomed to doing the PEB as a physical assessment. My 1.5 mile is around 11:10, but I can probably do better if I really tried. I've never been too keen on the Illinois Agility Test; I can pass it for the PEB though...

I did the CBP test back when I was considering a job with them, and that was easy (the step test was a bit odd).

[DirtMirt07]

You don't have to be in amazing shape, but you do have to have competitive scores. Remember, you are competing for the opportunity, so everything counts (PT scores, panel interview, poly, etc.)

I took the PT test with a guy who said his goal was to "finish." He was the only person who was eliminated after that session.

[Anthropologist]

Any idea if the panel interview is in-person or phone/video?

[DirtMirt07]

@Anthro - Panel interviews were in-person, but who knows what the new process might be bc of Covid-19.

[OneAdam]

So I’m curious. To any current or former FAM how is working in this job and having any sort of a family life? How many days a week are you expected to be away from home? Are you constantly spending days or nights away?

[UCLA1998]

You most likely will fly 3-4 times a week depending on your office. INT RONs are 3-5 days depending on the mission. When I was flying 10 years they were splitting out RDOs (stopped after everyone complained). Typical week could have a few missions with a NMS, training, or recover day. It all depends.

Back in winter during the 2012 my team got stuck in the middle
East for 13 out of 31 days (2 missions) because of bad weather and the Icelandic volcano. It’s was pretty memorable.

[Anthropologist]

I don't have a family, so this might not be too bad for me.

What exactly are you doing for most of the flights? Are you going to be filling out work-related reports and doing web trainings, simply observing the passengers and plane? Obviously you'd need to keep a high level of alertness and vigilance, but how does one fill the time on extremely long flights?

[UCLA1998]

You are acting as a regular passenger. Most guys I know went back to school for a masters degree. All you have is time. Use it wisely.

[Anthropologist]

Ah, okay. Thanks.

[gkov]

What do the acronyms Int ron and Nms mean?

[UCLA1998]

INT- international
RON- Remain over night
NMS - non mission status

[gkov]

Thanks for your answer, really appreciate you helping us out. I'm guessing that depending on the mission you can have a domestic RON that is a few days as well? Or are you typically "back in time for dinner" for domestic missions? Disregard if its OPSEC.

[OneAdam]

Thanks for the reply, so on the days that aren’t international are you flying for the day then returning home at night?

[gkov]

HiFlyR Are FAM'S allowed to carry their duty weapon in a foreign country?

[Anthropologist]

gkov

I doubt that it would be allowed.

[UCLA1998]

In majority countries FAMS can’t carry.

[Anthropologist]

Nevermind.

[Anthropologist]

Will dual citizenship be an issue for employment with FAMS? It wasn't an issue for my other agencies or getting a clearance.

[Anthropologist]

I wonder how official that form actually was in terms of renouncing citizenship. AFAIK, it take more than signing a U.S. government form to formally relinquish citizenship from another country (especially if the other country allows dual citizenship).

This was one of the more recent things that I was able to find from a quick Google search:

https://www.dni.gov/index.php/ncsc-how-we-work/ncsc-security-executive-agent/ncsc-policy

Security Executive Agent Directive-4 (SEAD-4) - Guideline B: Foreign Influence

I've had to sign something that was essentially a statement declaring loyalty solely to the United States. It wasn't a renunciation of citizenship though...

[UCLA1998]

In the past you would have to renounce to hold a TS clearance. But now I believe it’s possible to keep it, BUT it may depend on the agency.

[Anthropologist]

@UCLA1998

Is this agency specific? As a general rule that doesn't seem to match the information I'm reading online (ODNI and DoS guidelines) or what I've been told by some of people I've worked with who were also dual nationals. I only had Secret, but others had TS at other agencies (non-LE positions).

[Anthropologist]

In the past you would have to renounce to hold a TS clearance. But now I believe it’s possible to keep it, BUT it may depend on the agency.

Ah, got it! Thanks!

[K-lin]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum but I'm stuck in a pickle and need some advice. I'm currently in a hiring process with United States Secret Service and just got email to schedule my FAB with FAM. I will proceed with both applications since it is so easy to be disqualified but....... If I get offers with both agencies, which one should I pick? What are the negatives and positives. The money, time off, benefits...... What are the biggest attributes of being an Air Marshal? I hear good things but is it better than providing security for the leader of the free world?
Thank you for responses in advance..... K-lin.

[Exbpa340]

If the USSS position is an SA/1811 and not with the UD that would probably be the better long term route because you would get CITP done and be very marketable down the road to a more coveted position/agency. If we are talking the UD then I would go the FAM route.

[gkov]

Read back a couple pages and you'll get to know FAMS better.

[K-lin]

Yes, UD position. My main goal is to get withing the FEDs. How easy it is to transfer between agencies? Let say, I get the gi with USSS and want to transfer to FAM? You know how long the process is? Do you have to sign an agreement in which you agree to stay for x amount of years?

[Anthropologist]

Personally, I'd take the FAMS position over USSS Uniform Division.

[Exbpa340]

Both FAM and USSS UD positions are in the excepted service (career is better). You will have to apply for any opening like someone outside the federal government unless there is an exchange program with those agencies. The good news is your covered FERS time would start with either (plus leave and TSP).

[gkov]

Personally I would choose FAMS over USSS UD, I feel like FAMS would make someone more marketable. Also, I hear some not so good things about USSS.

[CCCSD]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum but I'm stuck in a pickle and need some advice. I'm currently in a hiring process with United States Secret Service and just got email to schedule my FAB with FAM. I will proceed with both applications since it is so easy to be disqualified but....... If I get offers with both agencies, which one should I pick? What are the negatives and positives. The money, time off, benefits...... What are the biggest attributes of being an Air Marshal? I hear good things but is it better than providing security for the leader of the free world?
Thank you for responses in advance..... K-lin.

Neither of them will give to time off...

[Anthropologist]

Wrong place

[Anthropologist]

Any guesses on how long the FAMS hiring process is taking with the COVID issues? I wonder what the chances are of getting the panel interview before the end of 2020.

[gkov]

Honestly with the way things are going covid wise, anything can happen at this point. The best advice i could give you after going through similar processes is don't get your hopes and expectations up, you'll just be disappointed in the end.

[darkhorse6]

Any guesses on how long the FAMS hiring process is taking with the COVID issues? I wonder what the chances are of getting the panel interview before the end of 2020.

Expect a long wait (2021) then be pleasantly surprised if it happens in 2020. That’s the best case scenario option.

[Anthropologist]

Yeah, that's about what I figured...

[Riv202]

Received FAB invite today

[Jrod26]

Finally got the invite today. I applied on the first day but updated the application on the last day. Local LEO, Bachelor's degree, 10 pt Vet Pref.

[A300!]

I also got the invite today. I will be taking it this coming Tuesday. To those who have already taken the FAB, how tough did you find it? Did the study guide help or was it not enough on its own? Did you use anything else than the guide they gave you? Any advice for the situational judgement portion? Finally, how long will it be before I receive my scores?

I know I am asking a lot of questions, but I just want to prepare as much as I can so I can pass with a competitive score and move forward in the process. Any answers will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Montey]

The study guide does help. You’ll receive an email shortly after on your results.