CBP officer

[lilnupe2009]

?

Has anyone else noticed that they are now referring to CBPO as Customs & Border Protection TECHNICIAN?!! I noticed it on a few job posting sites. Is this due to the controversy over it being considered a law enforcement career or not?

What do Customs & Border Protection TECHNICIAN Do.

[meandzen77]

Has anyone else noticed that they are now referring to CBPO as Customs & Border Protection TECHNICIAN?!! I noticed it on a few job posting sites. Is this due to the controversy over it being considered a law enforcement career or not?

USAJobs has posted a position for CBP Technician but the duties are as follows: "You will provide a full range of technical work supportive of or incidental to work performed by officers and specialists in the following functional areas: commercial; entry; inspections; mail; liquidation; and fines, penalties, and forfeiture." Etc... Essentially, I think this is a position much like that of other technical assistants to special agents for other organizations, i.e. FBI, ATF, etc.

[Legend1bt]

I will be there with you on the 20th.

I have the same class date, looks like I'll see you guys down there.

[ArmouredSainT]

CBP officer and CBP technician are two different jobs. A technician is merely a secretary without a gun doing clerical duties only. An officer is a secretary with a gun who does clerical and other inspectional duties that are understood with the job such as searching, working the line, immigration, blah blah blah...

[zeit_geist]

Thanks for the clarification between the CBP officer and technician. I was a bit worried.

[Legend1bt]

Security Clearance

What security clearance do Customs Officers have? Is it TS or just secret?

[1895DCSkate]

Critical Sensitive. Usually enough to see FOUO/LES documents and use the systems. It actually more of a sub classification. Very few of us have TS/SCI.

[1895DCSkate]

I have enjoyed reading the forum for a few months and was hoping I could post a few questions regarding the CBP position and FLETC. I am a Feb. 07 tester who has completed every aspect of the hiring process successfully. The BI has been submitted to the adjudicator and I am just waiting for scheduling. My duty location is Arizona.
Congrats

I have read in a Feb. report by OPM that the average adjudication time for BI's with DHS is 59 days. Is this the average that the forum has noticed? My TS/SCI with the military was not adjudicated anywhere close to this time frame.
BI is a standard background, unlike the one they do for TS/SCI. 99% officers in CBP have critical sensitive clearance is which basically, unclassified without realease authority. FOUO/LES is the majority of the systems and documents you will read. Public can file a FOIA to get most stuff anyway.

What is the normal routine for the few weeks you are working at your station awaiting FLETC dates? (ie. Are you given your uniform? Are you working a regular day/2nd shift? Etc...)

Most ports are different, but they should be giving you basic knowledge and skills to not to look stupid in school. Some ports won't let you work the line until you been to school and some will. Scheduling is based on your port. Again each port is different.

What kind of P.T. gear are you issued at FLETC? Do they P.T. everyday and do trainees get time after class to P.T? PT is fairly easy. I know 300lbs guys who did it and 150lbs who cried threw it. It's actually pretty good if you are into it. We actually had a dep. US Marshal PT instructor and he was hardcore and killed most of us on the first week. But PT was not pass/fail (sort of) it might have changed since I went threw. Which was 12 years or so ago. (1985) Everything is provided for you period. PT I think was 3 days a week. again this could've changed.

How big are the classes and are there several classes training at once? How often are classes started? What time do classes start? (I prefer working out in the morning)
Usually there are 24 students per class. New classes starts depends on budget for the fiscal year. When I joined it was a big hiring party for customs and we had a new class every 2-4 weeks or so. Workout schedule is based soley on the cadre scheduling. Don't forget your are not the only agency there, and the GYM is big but still have to accomidate other agencies.

There are some questions to start off with as I am sure I will have many more in the future. Thanks to anybody who has some answers. Good luck to everyone.

In my class alone I think I was the only one that had military background. Everyone else were customs employees switching series. We had a couple of people that worked the customs mail facility 1801 before switced to 1890. Some secrateries and alot of off the street. Back then there was a standard test to apply for customs. Hope this answer some of your questions.

[1895DCSkate]

Is it a mixed basic police training program at FLETC? Is it just CBP in the classes or are they shared with other organizations?

NO, you will be with other CBPO in your class. But FLETC is mixed you will be eating beside basic officers from, Capitol Hill Police, Amtrack, ATF, DEA, BOP and mess load.

[1895DCSkate]

Has anyone else noticed that they are now referring to CBPO as Customs & Border Protection TECHNICIAN?!! I noticed it on a few job posting sites. Is this due to the controversy over it being considered a law enforcement career or not?

I have never heard anything like that. CBP technician, is like a explorer or WAE. They fill in the gaps in needed personnel a port may need without commiting an officer. In other words, he does the paperwork around the office, might collect duty in the cashier both. Or at some ports he may do inspections in a low priority area, like a shipment of garments from China while the officer will look at a shipment of flower from Columbia. (Poss.Drugs). They only go up to GS-7 maybe a 9 at some ports but that's it. They don't carry either. I think they have a uniform or they wear a CBP polo shirt. A good way in the front door for college students.

[bronxitalian35]

NO, you will be with other CBPO in your class. But FLETC is mixed you will be eating beside basic officers from, Capitol Hill Police, Amtrack, ATF, DEA, BOP and mess load.

Thanks <<PFPA

[meandzen77]

DCSkate, thank you for the answers. Very informative.

[DannyB]

I received the letter yesterday, and CASS was updated today.

VBT passed! Thats 3 down and 4 to go.

[zeit_geist]

Here's a question for those that have recently been contacted regarding a posting and academy training. Did they contact you via mail or phone? If you had more than one posting option, did they give you time to choose or did you have to decide immediately? Do they give you some say in when you can start at the academy? I have a few commitments in the next few months and starting immediately may be a bit difficult. Any other info is certainly welcome. thx

[sinthetiq]

Here's a question for those that have recently been contacted regarding a posting and academy training. Did they contact you via mail or phone? If you had more than one posting option, did they give you time to choose or did you have to decide immediately? Do they give you some say in when you can start at the academy? I have a few commitments in the next few months and starting immediately may be a bit difficult. Any other info is certainly welcome. thx

I was contacted by phone (approx 730am on a friday). I was given two choices (the two i selected when I applied). I asked for some time to decide, and they allowed me to call back before noon, or else I might lose the start date and get pushed back. Basically it was a 3 week notice before I start.