Border Patrol Agent

[battlewagon]

I EOD on Oct 28th, are we expected to fly out to the place on our own dime or does CBP schedule a plane for all the candidates or something? I called my Training center and they told me not to call them and that they’d send me info when it got closer to the time but I don’t want to waste a grand on a last minute airline ticket

You pay for your travel to EOD and for your hotel for the three days. Fly out sunday, hotel that night. EOD Monday, hotel that night. More EOD paperwork and orientation Tuesday, hotel that night. Check out Wednesday morning, travel to academy Wednesday. Your travel to the academy at FLETC is done by agency. Most sectors prohibit you driving your car to EOD because you can't park it at sector HQ for six months. I guess you could drive it if you find a place to store it at a storage lot or someones house.

Very cool thanks guy I appreciate it, one last thing, does anyone know what we’ll be able to take with us to the academy? I haven’t gotten any info on that and I EOD on Oct 28 so I’d just like to get some baseline info on what to and not to take? Like Laptops or phones, do they have a clinic on at the academy to fill asthma prescription etc?

Whatever you can fit your suitcase is fine. Laptops, cell phones, whatever. Just be advised, those suitcases are going to get tossed around, so if you pack a laptop put it in the middle surrounded by clothes and what not. Bring your medicine.

[Florida_LEO]

We get pay that is equal to LEAP. Only difference is we have to actually work the hours we are paid. On LEAP, many of the people work 8 and leave. But when I worked in New York the DEA and USMS would work until 3 am and have to be back at work at 7, but would get paid for only 10 hours. In the Patrol we get comp time for anything past a ten hour work day which people on LEAP get nothing past 10 hours. Our pay plan does pay less than it use too but it is not anything less any other federal law enforcement agent on LEAP who is a journeyman GS12, but it does suck compared to what we use to get for sure. Obama made sure we got screwed because we keep out democratic voters. He hated the mean green as most democrats and a lot of republicans do so just know its a never ending political storm your coming into. But if you start as a 9 you will be making around 100k after three years with all of the premium pay you'll get. The customs CBPO position pays more than a PA gets in certain locations, but a lot less in other locations. Also that job has a completely different mindset and culture. Investigate both so you know full well what you are getting into. The CBPO position is more office like and customer service in its approach in some of there locations. The patrol is the complete opposite of that. But in the Patrol moving around is extremely difficult. In customs, it can be much easier depending on the location you are assigned. The fed retirement is nowhere near as good as a local or state cop in California makes but its better than many agencies in the midwest or southeast. Our medical, dental and vision plans are very good and you get to keep them when you retire.

Thanks for the info. I'm in the Florida Retirement System and it honestly sucks. I make less than $48k right now and I'm working for a statewide plainclothes agency. We're hard as hell to get in to. What's worse is neighboring agencies in my area make $35k if they're lucky. Pay raises are only through the Legislature. We have no step raises. We don't keep medical or dental when we retire either.

i figure get my foot in the door Federally and go from there. CBPO is interesting too.

[Stay Frosty]

Would anymore recommended BP over locals for example NYPD ? Taking into consideration retirement, opportunities to join different units, pay, healthcare, quality of life.

[SHU]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the Florida Retirement System and it honestly sucks. I make less than $48k right now and I'm working for a statewide plainclothes agency. We're hard as hell to get in to. What's worse is neighboring agencies in my area make $35k if they're lucky. Pay raises are only through the Legislature. We have no step raises. We don't keep medical or dental when we retire either.

i figure get my foot in the door Federally and go from there. CBPO is interesting too.

Just note, the CBPO's retirement was not considered 6C/12d law enforcement retirement by most agencies a few years ago. Don't know about today though but I'd be very careful about that if you are using the CBPO position to stop the clock on your federal LE retirement before age 37. The Patrol is 6c/12d LE retirement so you can go to DEA, ATF, USMS FBI, etc.. and not have to worry about your time in service for retirement being accepted by the agency.

[battlewagon]

Just note, the CBPO's retirement was not considered 6C/12d law enforcement retirement by most agencies a few years ago. Don't know about today though but I'd be very careful about that if you are using the CBPO position to stop the clock on your federal LE retirement before age 37. The Patrol is 6c/12d LE retirement so you can go to DEA, ATF, USMS FBI, etc.. and not have to worry about your time in service for retirement being accepted by the agency.

They're good to go now. The legislation that put them under the same umbrella (12d) as other covered LEOs was passed December 2007, and went into effect shortly after. The time is good as long as the legacy guys converted to the new covered retirement, but the time before the conversion does not count. But for anyone hired after that legislation went into effect, sometime in 2008, are under the same umbrella and the time is good all the same as BP, FBI, etc.

The actual wording that changed the law can be seen here on page 233 of the PDF
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...4.pdf#page=233
(2) IMMEDIATE RETIREMENT.—Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 8412(d) of title 5, United States Code, are amended by striking ‘‘or nuclear materials courier,’’ and inserting ‘‘nuclear materials courier, or customs and border protection officer,’’.
(3) COMPUTATION OF BASIC ANNUITY.—Section 8415(h)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or air traffic controller.’’ and inserting ‘‘air traffic controller, or customs and border protection officer’’.

The altered (and now current) code can be seen here, where you'll see CBPOs are listed.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/8412

It is interesting that instead of just putting the newly covered CBPO postion under law enforcement officers, they made them their own separate group, in the same way firefighters, air traffic controllers, and nuclear couriers are listed as different groups than LEO.

[merlin436]

Supposedly, CBPOs were intentionally added to 12D retirement as a separate and distinct class so that the position could keep certain perks...like non-mandated age retirements for those hired under the old rules. As it was explained to me at the time, being covered as a series class offers a great more flexibility. If one is defined as a "LEO" under Title 5, one must do the requisite duties of a LEO to retain that coverage. A CBPO retains his coverage by virtual of being a titled a CBPO, regardless of what his actual job duties are.

[Buck_Macdonald]

Any 1138 lads receive your info packet yet?

[Stay Frosty]

What are details in BP ? When can you start doing them ? Is it extra pay ?

[Radio Raheem]

There are numerous details.

ATVs
Boats
Bikes
Numerous Sector HQ Details
Numerous Border Patrol HQ detail
Bortac
BORSTAR
Sector Specific Details (i.e. brush crew, disrupt, etc.)
Intel
Prosecutions
Task Forces (FBI, Marshals, DEA, HSI)
Public Affairs
Asset Forfeiture
K-9 (which pays extra, but it more like the dog's salary so...)
Upper Management's adjutants
Sector PT instructor
Sector Firearms Instructor
Range Officer
Post academy instructor
Academy Instructor (Law, Firearms, PT, Driving, Spanish)
Foreign deployments
Different community outreach programs
Recruiting
Processing
Honor Guard
There are also details specifically for those in management
and the list goes on.........

As for when you can start applying for the details, it all depends on the detail, the sector, the station and your management. Some details have specific requirement you have to meet ( i.e. seniority, education, TIG), but for the most part you can apply to any of them. The results may vary from location to location. I have seen PAs with 10 months in the Patrol, including academy time, land a Prosecutions gig, but It took me three years to get in to the intel game. In my time I've seen two types of people consistently get details; those who have a "guardian angel" and those who are solid hard working agents.

Try to combine hard work and network; that is usually the recipe for success. You can be a hard worker but if you are a hermit then you are looked at as a cog and not a personality. You can network, but if you are incompetent then you are looked at as a "nice guy but kind of a putz." You have to shake hands, be political, smile at management, engage in conversation (naturally) with the brass. You will have some crabs in the patrol that will tell you to stay away from the brass because of their own inadequacies, but if the brass see that you aren't intimidated and you acknowledge them, then you are already setting yourself apart from the others.

I have since left the Patrol, but to this day, I still have genuine relationships with numerous Sector Chiefs, PAICs, Chiefs at BPHQ, Academy Instructors, etc because I was not afraid to network and work hard.

Now this isn't license for you to be a pretentious douchbag or anything because there are alot of those in the patrol and you want to set yourself apart...right? This advice is so you can have the ability to make the most out of your time in the Patrol and have a satisfying and successful career in and outside the Patrol.

[Sink123]

I see where the border patrol is authorized to pay student loans as a recruitment incentive. I recently received the call and will EOD in February. Can anyone shed light on who I need to speak with concerning this incentive?

[battlewagon]

Such programs will run through your station and sector MSS team so you meet them, your station HR, once you graduate and report to station.

During your EOD you'll be with sector MSS (mission support specialist) and you can ask then. They're usually very good.

Lmk what you find out. I didn't know BP was doing that now. When I left they weren't even funding tuition reimbursement for those taking classes, though I know they are now. Didn't know they were paying off towards past incurred student debt.

[Stay Frosty]

@ Battlewagon
Can I PM ?

[battlewagon]

Sure. Send it.

[Stay Frosty]

On the way @ Battlewagon.

[Sink123]

Sorry if this has already been covered. I EOD in February and am trying to get finances in line. Does anyone know what a check will look like while in the academy at a GL 9? This will probably be a paycut for me due to the amount of overtime I work now and I am just trying to get a plan together for the first year. Thanks in advance.

[Klumper23]

Im currently at the academy and at GL 9 i am bringing home a little over 1,100 every two weeks. Will vary a little due to different taxes and insurance.

[battlewagon]

dang I was making 1000 take home after tax and an up'd TSP contribution day 1 as a GL-5, many years ago. Do you have family and family insurance, FSA, etc?

[Klumper23]

Yes i do have family insurance, fsa im at 7 percent tsp.

[battlewagon]

Nice well at least you already uped tsp instead of the guys who are ten years in who realized they are at 1% and have been in the G the whole time

[battlewagon]

Sorry if this has already been covered. I EOD in February and am trying to get finances in line. Does anyone know what a check will look like while in the academy at a GL 9? This will probably be a paycut for me due to the amount of overtime I work now and I am just trying to get a plan together for the first year. Thanks in advance.

What's your duty location. You are paid your locality pay even while at training in a different locality. If you're going to a low cost of living, Rest of US pay table area, see the following:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-over...20(LEO)_h.aspx

25.47 hourly x 40 per week x 2 weeks per pay period=
$2037.60 gross before tax, etc

If you don't have family back home, remember room and board and food, etc is all paid for. Besides beer money you can save near 100% of your take home.

When you EOD, set your TSP high. 15-20%. Go ahead and set yourself up for a million dollar TSP retirement account. You can't miss the money if you never see it by starting off high. I personally recommend a 50/50 split between C and S fund for someone just starting off with a lifetime of a career to go. I have something different, but close, tailored to my situation with less time to go. But I am no financial planner.

The point is do not contribute only the minimum or 5% if you can afford to contribute more, and do not leave the funds in the G fund.

Good luck.

[battlewagon]

There's nothing wrong with fal. Agents there will be the most well-rounded agents of any station in the Rio Grande valley sector in my opinion. You will learn your case work and paperwork front to back with how busy they are. But commuting from corpus that's quite a grind. There are guys that do it but most live in edinburg-mcallen area and some live in kingsville. But it's definitely not undoable. I think they have a vanpool from corpus to falfurrias, I'll see if I can find out for you

[battlewagon]

Checked with an agent, the corpus to fal van pool is still active. They said they used to meet at corpus station but he wasn't exactly sure.

In case you haven't heard, the van pools are an agency provided benefit to those who commute from a far ways away. The agency provides a minivan and gas to commute to work. It cost something like 150-200 or whatever it is now that you pay every month, and the agency reimburses you every month back. Keeps mileage and wear off your car and saves gas money

[Sink123]

That’s great to know and we are looking at living in or around kingsville hopefully.

[Radio Raheem]

So with all of the things deducted from your check, it will probably be no more than $1600 per pay period.

[OPena37]

I've been in the hiring process since Feb 8th 2018. I've completed all requirenents, but medical. I've submitted a Request of Medical Waiver, Dec 2018, and I have yet to hear anything about it. I've emailed med review, but thier answer is a prescripted email. I'm beginning to think they lost my paperwork. Any advice or opinions will help on what to do. Thanks.

[Sink123]

Is it true you can only travel 100 miles away on the weekends? I am suppose to be in a wedding during the same time frame I’m in the academy and want to give him a heads up if he needs to find another best man.

[DiverB72]

Just get approval from academy staff, which means you will have to request it in the form of writing a memo. Be advised if you are late getting back to the academy due to weather, aircraft issues, ect, you risk missing too much training and possibly getting recycled.

[Gh3isT]

Good afternoon everyone. Long time lurker and its been a long time since I have updated any progress. I was originally 19-5 VRA, currently 19-8 VRA. Just had my polygraph today. Got a verbal pass, so here's hoping the rest goes smoothly. As far as locations go I have been really contemplating Laredo West, anyone have any insight on that location or any suggestions on locations would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently a K-9 officer and if all goes well and I begin my career with BPA I also plan on trying to do K-9 with BPA in the future if anyone has any insight on that as well. Well to everyone good luck, as I am going back to hurrying up and waiting!

[Gh3isT]

battlewagon thanks for the quick reply and insight. I really appreciate it. Hopefully when/and if I get the call I'll see what is offered. Mainly picked Laredo because I've been itching to move to Texas for some years now and also a former co-worker of mine is out that way, he kind of put the bug in my ear to join up. Just mainly trying to figure out which location would suit me, from what I hear, correct me if I'm wrong; I should expect to stay at my first station for probably 8-10 years?

[battlewagon]

You should be committed to it for a while. Yes you will be there for a while. Most people from South Texas consider Laredo a undesirable, I've never met someone who wasn't from Laredo who lived there for whatever reason and said 'i enjoyed it' or they liked it. The Rio grande valley would be much more desirable in my opinon. McAllen, etc. But that's just my two cents and experience, don't take it as gospel.

[Gh3isT]

Thanks again. Will definitely look into those locations as well.

[SHU]

I believe Laredo West is known as the Death Star.

[TsFost]

Got the call this morning for a GL9 position. After going over the list of locations for the day I called back and left a message with the information needed. Chose Brown Field CA for my duty location. I have one question though. If OFO calls me and offers me a better location at a GS9 pay rate that I was in the process for would there be any huge negative in accepting it and calling BP back to decline the final offer? I don't want to be suddenly black listed or anything. Although the chances of taking OFO over BP isn't huge.