Marine Interdiction Agent

[IntrepidOne]

Congrats to all the new selections! Has anyone heard when the JAN announcement will be forwarded to the selecting officials? Just wondering here if my NOR score is going to hold any water for this announcement. Have my fingers crossed.

[nvgonu]

which announcement?

Hey everyone I'm new to this forum, but have followed for awhile now. I have a question as to which announcement everyone was getting picked up on. Was everyone picked up on 222817 status candidate or 214464 open prmotional? I had applied to both and was referred on both. I am pretty sure I am not gonna get picked up on the 222817 because I still have not yet received anything unless I get bumped up because someone turns down an offer. As for 214464, I was told by MHC no selections were made and no COEs were sent out, that our referral certs are good for 120 days from date of issue, and we would be notified by email whether or not we get the position. I am just wondering if any of you that were picked up got picked up under the 214464 and the lady gave me the wrong information.... I'm just hoping that I still have a chance at this. Congrats to all of you that were selected and I hope you all do well and pass all academy and training required.

[Riv325]

Disposition of 214464 & 222817

Sorry guys, I hate being the bearer of bad news, but all the selections have been made a long time ago for the 214464 and 222817 announcements. They hired over 140+ new agents in an unprecedented CBP Air & Marine selection event down in D.C. a couple months ago. The 214464 announcement was for status candidates, i.e. CBP Officers and other DHS employees or persons already employed by the federal government, who were all given firm offers and EOD's my mid January. The 222817 announcement was open to the public, however all Tentative Offers for that announcement have also gone out by mid-January and those applicants lucky enough to have been selected have already begun their pre-employment processing. If you haven't received anything from MHC other than a NOR or "Referred to the Selecting Official" email than you are out of luck. Nonetheless there was an announcement that was posted on USAJobs after these two, however, it was only for persons who would be eligible for the GL-09 Grade Level. In other words, if you don't have a 6 pack (otherwise known as an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel License or OUPV) you wouldn't qualify.

But don't despair. They're always coming out with new announcements. Also look for the Aviation Enforcement Officer (AEO) openings. That job is just as desireable and could be considered an equivalent position on the Air side and you don't even have to be able to fly an aircraft! Also an 1801 position with full 6c coverage. Keep plugging away at those applications. It took me seven trys before I was picked up!

[IntrepidOne]

Thanks for the update Riv. I applied for the 231975 GL-09 position and am trying to see if anyone has heard anything about the timeframe for when they will send apps to the selecting officials. I'm going to guess that we will get emails early next week, but maybe I've got rose colored glasses on.

[GJG7229]

It seems like quite a few people on this thread are pretty knowledgeable. I've got some questions that I hope some of you guys can help me out with. Here's some background: I have been blessed with two good opportunities at the end of 2008. On Christmas eve I was promoted to a GS-12 Supervisory CBP Officer and on New Year's eve I was offered a position as a Marine Interdiction Agent (Grade 7, step 10). Both positions are in Brownsville, TX. The MHC has allowed me to push back my EOD to July 6th, 2009, so for now, I'm a CBP Supervisor until I EOD as an MIA. Now I'm trying to compare the two positions to decide which will be the best for me and my family. So my questions are:

1. What is the difference in pay between a GS-12 and a 7,10 with AUO and FLSA?
2. What are the major differences between the "enhanced" CBP retirement and full 6c coverage?
3. Any negatives about the MIA position that people are becoming aware of? (I can't seem to find many)

Maybe someone that has transferred over from another federal job to MIA can help me out with some of these questions. Thanks.

[boat22]

Riv
Congratulations. Call me when you get a chance.
Boat22

[Riv325]

1. What is the difference in pay between a GS-12 and a 7,10 with AUO and FLSA?
2. What are the major differences between the "enhanced" CBP retirement and full 6c coverage?
3. Any negatives about the MIA position that people are becoming aware of? (I can't seem to find many)

I'll give you the best answers I can that I've compiled from talking to other Agents/CBPOs/SCBPOs/friends; experience; and trial and error throughout this process: (If I'm telling you things you already know, or if I'm passing on bunk information, than I apologize. I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong.)

1.) First of all, you'll never beat any matched-salary that has AUO tacked on. It's 25% added to every day you work. Its based on the fact that an average LEO's work day may exceed the normal eight hour period because of paperwork, arrests, seizures, etc. As far as I know it accounts for a 50 hour work week or an average of 10 hours per day. Now you may not actually work that 50 hours, but you'll still get paid, which makes this awesome. However, you could also work a 16 hour day and not receive one smidgen of OT as long as you stay under the 50 hours. Exceed the 50 hours and you may not get OT pay either; I heard several different answers to that question. So, that being said, here's the breakdown on SCBPO GS-12 vs. MIA GL-07 step 10 w/AUO:

SCBPO GS-12 step 1 = $67,613 w/no OT (Rest of U.S.) according to opm.gov
MIA GL-07 step 10 w/AUO = $68,292 (I added the AUO into the base salary for the year [Rest of U.S.])

Thus, you can see that you'll actually make more as a MIA GL-07 step 10 than you would as a SCBPO GS-12. Add in locality pay and job satisfaction and you can't go wrong. Also keep in mind that MIA's receive a higher (sometimes substantially, depending on location pay) LEO base rate salary. This pays huge dividends in the lower grade levels, however the disparity between the LEO base and GS scale base decreases to nothing as you reach higher pay grades, nonetheless, this doesn't really matter when your getting 25% on the top.

2.) CBP's 12d "Enhanced Retirement" gives you LEO retirement, nothing else. It was the agencies way of getting NTEU off their back. 12d doesn't give you anything except 6c-like retirement coverage, i.e. do your 20 and your out at a slightly higher rate. If you have 6c, you can retire at any age if you have 25 years of service. I'm not sure if this is the same under 12d. Also, 6c allows Agents to do more meaningful work, pertaining to enforcement activities and such, and actually make real arrests, not detaining persons like a CBPO does until the real LEO's (ICE Agents etc.) show up and take over. In other words, it makes you a legit LEO. As far as I know it gives the LEO more protections off-duty as well, i.e. peace officer-like status. 12d is a gentle euphemism for, "bad CBPO, no meaningful police work for you."

3.) There is no downside to this job. It is awesome!!!!!!!

[Riv325]

Thanks for the update Riv. I applied for the 231975 GL-09 position and am trying to see if anyone has heard anything about the timeframe for when they will send apps to the selecting officials. I'm going to guess that we will get emails early next week, but maybe I've got rose colored glasses on.

This is what I can tell you from what I've experienced through seven applications:

Time frame from closing date of vacancy announcement until NOR's (Notice of Results) and/or "Referral to Selecting Official Notification": 17-22 days

Time frame from "Referral to Selecting Official Notification" until phone interview or Tentative Offer email/snail mail letter: Variable; 1-6 weeks approximately

Note: From personal experience, if you receive a NOR and only a NOR with no referral notifications, then you were not referred to the selection official. You probably will not receive an email saying that you were not referred for 8-10 weeks later in a final dispostion (sorry you didn't make it) email.

[GJG7229]

I'll give you the best answers I can that I've compiled from talking to other Agents/CBPOs/SCBPOs/friends; experience; and trial and error throughout this process: (If I'm telling you things you already know, or if I'm passing on bunk information, than I apologize. I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong.)

1.) First of all, you'll never beat any matched-salary that has AUO tacked on. It's 25% added to every day you work. Its based on the fact that an average LEO's work day may exceed the normal eight hour period because of paperwork, arrests, seizures, etc. As far as I know it accounts for a 50 hour work week or an average of 10 hours per day. Now you may not actually work that 50 hours, but you'll still get paid, which makes this awesome. However, you could also work a 16 hour day and not receive one smidgen of OT as long as you stay under the 50 hours. Exceed the 50 hours and you may not get OT pay either; I heard several different answers to that question. So, that being said, here's the breakdown on SCBPO GS-12 vs. MIA GL-07 step 10 w/AUO:

SCBPO GS-12 step 1 = $67,613 w/no OT (Rest of U.S.) according to opm.gov
MIA GL-07 step 10 w/AUO = $68,292 (I added the AUO into the base salary for the year [Rest of U.S.])

Thus, you can see that you'll actually make more as a MIA GL-07 step 10 than you would as a SCBPO GS-12. Add in locality pay and job satisfaction and you can't go wrong. Also keep in mind that MIA's receive a higher (sometimes substantially, depending on location pay) LEO base rate salary. This pays huge dividends in the lower grade levels, however the disparity between the LEO base and GS scale base decreases to nothing as you reach higher pay grades, nonetheless, this doesn't really matter when your getting 25% on the top.

2.) CBP's 12d "Enhanced Retirement" gives you LEO retirement, nothing else. It was the agencies way of getting NTEU off their back. 12d doesn't give you anything except 6c-like retirement coverage, i.e. do your 20 and your out at a slightly higher rate. If you have 6c, you can retire at any age if you have 25 years of service. I'm not sure if this is the same under 12d. Also, 6c allows Agents to do more meaningful work, pertaining to enforcement activities and such, and actually make real arrests, not detaining persons like a CBPO does until the real LEO's (ICE Agents etc.) show up and take over. In other words, it makes you a legit LEO. As far as I know it gives the LEO more protections off-duty as well, i.e. peace officer-like status. 12d is a gentle euphemism for, "bad CBPO, no meaningful police work for you."

3.) There is no downside to this job. It is awesome!!!!!!!

Riv235,
Thanks for the info. It was really helpful!

[enufshuz]

Riv,
Have you gotten an academy date yet? I should be getting my firm offer this week. Talked to G today, everything is looking good. I EOD March 30th.

[jbluer]

Enuf,

I EOD in April, with the Academy April 13. I live in AC currently. PM me.

[Riv325]

Riv,
Have you gotten an academy date yet? I should be getting my firm offer this week. Talked to G today, everything is looking good. I EOD March 30th.

Hey bud, good to hear everything's going as planned. Feel any relief yet? Yea, me neither. There's no way the anxiety will dissipate until I cross that threshold into the new office on day one. Maybe I shouldn't mention then that I won't have to attend the A&M Basic . The academy is usually waived for applicants who have already been through the CBP Integrated (or "CBPI" for CBP Officers, formerly know as Customs Inspectors) program. The word on the street was that this is at the discretion of your local DMO so I got the official word from my duty station. I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't extremely relieved to not have to attend FLETC again. Already been there done that for 16 weeks. Apparently, the two programs are nearly identical, as it pertains to the instruction of Title 19 (Customs Duties) and Title 8 (Immigration and Nationality Act or INA). Thus, it would seem to me and apparently the agency as well, that it would be somewhat of a waste of time and money to send CBPO's through another basic that covers the same material.

That being said, I'll still have to go to MLETP (Marine Law Enforcement Training Program @ FLETC) and then follow that up with the Advanced Boat/Tactical training programs at CBP's Marine Center in St. Augustine, FL. These programs I'm really looking forward to attending. I'm not former Coast Guard, so the boat/interdiction stuff is all very new and stimulating. Nonetheless, it is nice to know that I'll be able to get started from day one. Unfortunately, that won't be until May. I wanted to make sure that I picked up my GS-11 as a CBPO come April so that A&M HQ would have to match my pay; it's like a 10K increase, so it's definitely worth the extra wait. Hope all goes well for you. The academy is a good experience and I think you'll enjoy it. The more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it. Good luck and keep in touch with your progress. If I can help along the way then I will certainly like to do so.

[Riv325]

Enuf,

I EOD in April, with the Academy April 13. I live in AC currently. PM me.

jbluerogers from delphiforums? If so, welcome to this thread. Your still waiting to go to the academy? Yea, I guess you would be if you were an outside hire. Man, its been a year since you were waiting for your NOR's on the announcement you were eventually picked up for and I was a desperate applicant looking for answers on how to obtain this position. You took Sandusky, OH if my memory serves me correctly. Was it the BI that took so long? Well if it is the same jbluerogers then we'll probably be crossing paths in the near future. I took Erie, PA so I'll be only a little ways east on the I-90.

Everyone, check out this link:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=customsinspect&msg=6857.163

This was a great thread from delphiforums.com in the past and has a lot of insight into the process for outside hires. jbluer, I apologize for using you as an involuntary example but I think it might help some of those currently posting on this thread gain some insight in how long this process can take if your not already in CBP.

[jbluer]

Yeah thats me...

[boat22]

Jbluer
What announcement did you apply under?when is what I mean.