CBP officer

[yoda]

I'm a current TSO and i told TSA about trying weed a few years ago.

Many TSO's with criminal records and past/current drug use on the job with TSA... Just sayin'...

[Sick of being a Army Grunt]

A poorly written report will be taken as a poorly trained Officer in court... and a lawyer might just have all charges dropped because of those missing letters.

As far as I'm concerned the agency should require a Degree for this position... where else can you make this amount of money with only a HS diploma?

If they required a degree then they would never fill all of the positions. The newest opening basically says that you either need a degree or experience. I personally don't think that a degree makes a person educated or give that person "Common Sense", After being in the Army for so long I've learned that. There are many degree holders who still can not write or speak proper English. Just my two cents.

[Rapiyiyi]

Those TSOs were hired b4 TSA became part of DHS. And also, i'm pretty sure that there are many CBP Officers who have used or tried drugs in the past. Not everyone was given a polygraph. You should know. I personally know many Officers who were not given a Poly. We both know they only do a urine drug test. So your point is? Just saying...

Many TSO's with criminal records and past/current drug use on the job with TSA... Just sayin'...

[Sick of being a Army Grunt]

Food for thought, for anyone thinking of changing to the SWB to get hired faster...


If you are thinking about coming to the SWB and you are married, you need to read this. As I stated before I have been in El Paso, Texas for about 3 years (Army). El Paso is a fairly large city, especially on the SWB. If your wife/spouse does not speak Spanish then He or She will have a very hard time finding any kind of job. Its a lot easier in El Paso because of Ft Bliss but its still extremely hard to find any kind of employment if you can not speak Spanish. Im talking Wal-mart, 7-Eleven or jobs that require you to have a degree. I feel this is something that you should strongly look into if you are married. So 1. its going to be a culture shock, 2. Slim employment chances for anyone who does not speak Spanish... Hence the reason why US Federal Officers/Agents has to learn it..

You will run into people who can speak English but will not speak it, which I find rude but hey it is what it is.......

[Rapiyiyi]

I applied to the SWB. Good luck to you. I have to get my fingerprints taken

Food for thought, for anyone thinking of changing to the SWB to get hired faster...


If you are thinking about coming to the SWB and you are married, you need to read this. As I stated before I have been in El Paso, Texas for about 3 years (Army). El Paso is a fairly large city, especially on the SWB. If your wife/spouse does not speak Spanish then He or She will have a very hard time finding any kind of job. Its a lot easier in El Paso because of Ft Bliss but its still extremely hard to find any kind of employment if you can not speak Spanish. Im talking Wal-mart, 7-Eleven or jobs that require you to have a degree. I feel this is something that you should strongly look into if you are married. So 1. its going to be a culture shock, 2. Slim employment chances for anyone who does not speak Spanish... Hence the reason why US Federal Officers/Agents has to learn it..

You will run into people who can speak English but will not speak it, which I find rude but hey it is what it is.......

[Mole177]

got my may fitness tip.

kinda relieved. see what stuff they post about this time. seems hastily put together.

[TP3]

You have Arizona as your Geo is that only Arizona or SWB as well? I can't believe you have been waiting since July 2011 for your background to clear!!!!! Yeah the wait sucks! It didn't bother me as much when I felt like we were all waiting but when I started seeing people with TO's after mine being called, that's when I really started to get impatient.
Well I applied for import specialist also with CBP, I have an interview on Thur, if all goes well I think I'm jumping off the CBPO ship! lol
Good luck!

which location did you choose. I applied to that recent annoucement choosing atlanta and never heard anything back from them

[snappertrapper]

Hoping someone can answer this: if you pass all the testing steps for CBP officer and get to the medical and your uncorrected vision is worse than what they require; can you then, at that time, get corrective surgery and not have to repeat all the testing steps again? Or do you 100% have to meet the requirements at the time of the medical exam. I ask because I know a guy who made it through everything for state police and when he got to the medical his vision wasn't up to snuff so they let him get surgery and just continue from where he was at in the process. Thanks!

[noname1]

Anyone in the agency know if they will issue TOs for the southeast soon (atlanta maybe?). I would like to remain in Southeast but I want the job. I was thinking about switching to SWB (lived in Arizona so I know what it is like) but I would hate to do that and then they issue TOs to SE. I am trying to be patient but yet want the job...any advice?

[javy03]

I used to work in education...both in primary and secondary grades. I couldn't tell you how many people I've met with an MS in education who struggled to write effectively. I agree that many within CBP could use some formal training on language and writing.


I'm not trying to downplay anyone's actual accomplishments and/or insult anybody. I'm stating a simple fact. There are numerous schools and programs out there that are little more than diploma mills.

You are right, but i am guessing that CBPO or DHS will have some sort of OJT (on the Job training) or even a class for their Officer in effective writing. Something in the line like the Army that once you go to WLC (Warrior Leaders Course) or Sergeants course you get some formal training of effective military writing, is not to be perfect but correct and short sweet and to the point the way the Army wants you to write correspondance.

So, even having a Degree doesn't make you write better, or even be smarter, same way having no Degree and tons of professional work experience doesn't make you a reliable person. So you have to treat people (Professionaly) on a case by case basis.

[CMUnupe]

Hoping someone can answer this: if you pass all the testing steps for CBP officer and get to the medical and your uncorrected vision is worse than what they require; can you then, at that time, get corrective surgery and not have to repeat all the testing steps again? Or do you 100% have to meet the requirements at the time of the medical exam. I ask because I know a guy who made it through everything for state police and when he got to the medical his vision wasn't up to snuff so they let him get surgery and just continue from where he was at in the process. Thanks!

They gave me roughly 45 days to have surgery. After the surgery is complete, you have to wait a mandatory time of 90 days before you have to get re-evaluated and send in the corresponding paperwork.

If something expires, you will have to obviously make it current again.

I did it 4 years ago......still waiting too.

[yoda]

Those TSOs were hired b4 TSA became part of DHS. And also, i'm pretty sure that there are many CBP Officers who have used or tried drugs in the past. Not everyone was given a polygraph. You should know. I personally know many Officers who were not given a Poly. We both know they only do a urine drug test. So your point is? Just saying...

That kind of TSO's are still being hired to this day.... They are the same ones caught on camera stealing from passengers.
CBPO's go through an extremely thorough BI that goes back 10 years, even if they didn't have to go through a Poly to be hired, they were vetted the right way. Not only do we go through this on the hiring process, but every 5 years on the job as well.

[javy03]

Honestly, if you guys are still arguing whether you need to have proper writing skills, casual conversation or not, this might not be the job for you.
Everything you write is seen by a lot of people, on this forum, in the academy, and on the job. If that's the way you want to present yourself, then by all means go for it. The same goes for facial hair. I've already explained the policy at FLETC, if you don't care what people think of you then it's ok, right?

Good, but regardless if people in the Academy read this or on the job, I should be graded/judge about my performance at the Academy and on the JOB! not about what officer.com nickname of mine said. I can be the English professor writting perfect english with all the knowledge in the world HERE and report to the academy fail my PT, or fail the exams and then what im out. So people here need to prepare for the Academy physically and mentally and when they get to the Academy use all the materials ect to study and once they get on the JOB learn and try to become a better Officer.

[javy03]

Most certainly not the way it works... a SECRET with DOD is not like our extensive BI. As I have stated previously here those of you going through the Poly and being cleared is an effort to push you through FLETC ASAP with an "interim" clearance. You will meet with an investigator at some point and you might even be sent home from FLETC after they find something on you that doesn't jive with the agency...

Oh i know, but I think they will stop that practice, look what happened to Capitol Police (DC) they had i think 2 academies full with Cadets with no BI because they needed bodies in the academy and i think the lost one full class mid way thru. thats a lot of Money and effort, i think it was like 2 or 3 years a go.

But yes, Border Patrol did it in 2008 when they did the mass hiring, i have a buddy in San Diego that grew up with me and he wasnt the best of people, but he cleared 1 week prior to finishing the academy.

Will see Sir (are u FLNG) i am working in the 53rd building in Pinellas Park

[javy03]

I understand what you are saying, I think that If they did not want you to show up with a beard or goatee etc.... they should just say that in one of the million emails that a person receives from them. If they never tell you that you cant have facial hair then its illegal for them to turn you away because of it. I posted a question about facial hair a few weeks ago. I got good advice from guys already on the job but no matter how hard I looked I could not find anything talking about facial hair.

and if you keep looking you will not finding because there is nothing for APPLICANT. there is no SOP, no HOW TO, just word of mouth.

but, you are a Soldier right? if you go in front of a Board how will you present yourself?
dont ease yourself becuase you will not wear the uniform anymore, you will still be representing your country and wearing a Uniform.

but you are right, it would be easier for us Army grunts to have some authority figure telling us what to excpect.