Border Patrol Agent

[battlewagon]

I have a weird question, I have quite a few food allergies and wanted to know if the academy accommodates people with allergies, or is it everyone gets the same food no matter what. Also do you have to prepare and serve the food for your fellow trainees, i have heard they do this in a few police academies.

The food is contracted to a company and quite good at Artesia, on par with some good mil chow halls, in my opinion at least. I knew people who went through the academy with celiac disease, some who were vegetarian or vegan, others who couldn't have this or that, and were just fine. There's enough to choose from you can probably be fine, depending on your restrictions.

Now if you are someone who has something really unfortunate like being allergic to food that's made in the same building as nuts and it'll kill you if the food was 50 yards within nuts, you're probably going to have an issue.

The real question is can you eat gas station and roadside vendor tacos for breakfast and lunch every day? If not, the Patrol may not be for you. That's a little jaja JK there but yeah. Nutrition before the mission!

[battlewagon]

Double post

[rm2121]

thank you very much for the information i couldn't find it anywhere else.

[A300!]

Hey hope everyone is doing well so far. This might be a bit off topic but I was once an applicant for Border Patrol in 2016 but failed the poly when I took it. I did not know if they ever did a background investigation on my so I reached out to a recruiter and asked him. He said part of my investigation was accomplished. I am currently in the hiring process with another federal law enforcement agency and I know when I fill out the background check form, I am going to come across the question "Has the U.S government EVER investigated your background and/ or granted you a clearance?" Given what I have seen on this forum and what that recruiter told me, I don't know whether to answer yes or no to that question. Any advice on what I should answer would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[A300!]

I appreciate the input but what about the fact that part of the investigation was accomplished?

[Page]

Hi there, you should put that the BI was initiated. I would type this in the comments box. Why? Because you went through two parts of the four part BI process, that being the preliminary vetting checks and the polygraph examination. Sometimes people misunderstand - just because you are eligible to re-apply after two years, it does not mean that the failure will be removed from your record, and it does not change the fact that a BI was initiated and partially completed. Yes, the rest of the BI, the field portion and final adjudication, were not done. But, look at it this way, if you are partially into an affirmative response on any SF-86 question, just record what you have for the question, and explain. That way reviewers cannot say they feel you were "hiding something" if/when they come across the record in question. I am sure you will get feedback from others as well, I imagine it will be similar to what I told you. Proceed as you see fit, though I am telling you, if it were me, I would do exactly what I have told you here, I think this is solid advice.

[Page]

Also, really important, based on what you said here you were NOT denied a security clearance. Please make sure that does not mix you up, that should definitely be a NO response for that question, which is asked separately on its own after you list your BI's for each agency. You were never up for a clearance as an entry level BP applicant, so do not let this screw you up, you should answer NO you have never been denied a security clearance. Because you weren't. And therefore, backing up to when you list all of your BI's --- for BP when it asks "Provide the level of clearance eligibility/access granted " you should check "NONE".

[Levithane]

A300!, I would frankly question what the recruiter told you. A lot of times they'll give you the safe answer which is "oh yeah you had this completed", then all the sudden it ends up not being the case. Then when you do get in touch with a background investigator for a job you're about to get, and tell them "oh yeah I was investigated here here and here", but then they aren't able to corroborate the claim. Now you're in the situation of you wanted to be honest, but they are unable to corroborate your claim. Now if the questionnaire asked you "have you applied for other jobs or filled out another SF86" obviously in your case you would answer yes. The disconnect with this debate is that the submission of the questionnaire is being conflated with the frame of time when your background is being investigated by the contractor or federal investigator.

[Page]

A300!, If this helps you at all, I am posting the CASS description of the BI. I don't know what to tell you, other than what I would 100% do myself. If it makes you feel any better you could always email the security specialist who assigned you the SF-86 for the new agency. They can tell you how they see things. You want to do what they prefer, no harm in asking: Hey is this too much info, do you want me to include it or not? Then, if they say leave it out, and you follow that advice, you have written confirmation of what you were advised, in the off chance it becomes an issue later. I believe that so long as you are genuinely making an effort to answer the questions in an honest and accurate manner you will be fine.

CASS BI.PNG

[A300!]

Thanks for the advice. I just want to let you know that I sent you a PM.

[DRohn167]

[Khoi hoang]

I just got an offered EDO 5/11 and will be virtual which will save me some money but I'm clueless about the 10 locations they offered. I prefer AZ border for family to live in Tucson. Should I wait or accept the offer? Thanks.

Locations offered,

CA - El Centro, Boulevard, Campo
NM - Lordsburg
TX - Carrizo Spring, Comstock, Presidio, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca

[SamTAC]

Congratulations!!

Today was your EOD right?! How did it go? Have they told you anything about training?

Just curious as I am supposed to EOD next month and wondering how training is going to happen due to COVID.

What location did you go with?

Thanks and congrats again!

[rm2121]

When i applied i stated i would like South Texas, how likely it that i will receive a station in that area.

If it is likely, what is the chances i receive a station like Mcallen or Brownsville?

Also how many years does it take to get s special duty like ATV or Boat Patrol?

[FederalHopeful]

Very likely. McAllen is always open. I was able to get on ATV's in 2 years.

[SamTAC]

Hello!

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe!

Quick question, I am supposed to EOD next month and I have selected Lordsburg! I'm pretty pumped!! Has anyone heard about what is happening with training, are we still going 3 days after? Just not sure how to handle current employment.

Also, any idea on where I can arrange living arrangements in Lordsburg? Is Deming okay to setup?

Thanks everyone! Stay Safe!

[DRohn167]

Send me a PM

[Stay Frosty]

Interested in knowing also

Hows the set up in Lordsburg ?

[R_Gonzo]

What is your EOD? I’m June 18.

[SHU]

Detailers are reporting back to ART on June 1 so things should start moving along for the academy soon.

[SamTAC]

What is your EOD? I’m June 18.

I'm set for June 15th. Where is your EOD?

[DOTfed20]

Has anyone heard about the position of Border Patrol Processing Coordinator? it was recently created as a side unit to help BPA

[Page]

Does anyone know if the age cutoff for BPA, currently at 40, could be moved back to 37? From what I have seen, it has been at 40 at least since like 2011. I have never seen it at 37 for BPA, but my awareness of this job and looking at the BPA job postings only goes back to 2011. It is indicated in the BPA announcements that the age cutoff has been permitted to be raised to 40 due to hiring needs. And so with that being the case it could, it appears, technically at some point be lowered back to 37.

Has anyone seen a time when the age cutoff for BPA was back at 37? As a side note, I know that for CBPO at least, a few years back, I think maybe 2016 or so, it was changed from 37 to 40, so I know that the CBPO cutoff has moved around somewhat recently. But what about BPA, is this more of a constant that the cutoff stays at 40, or has it been moved around?

[merlin436]

I can remember back to when both OFO and BP announcements were cut off as referred for selection before reaching their 37th birthday.

I don't see any reason why, if hiring/circumstances allowed, that CBP wouldn't revert both back to the 37 age cutoff. Especially since one of the main reasons 12D/6C retirement exists is to provide for a young and vigorous workforce.

[Page]

OK, thank you. Hopefully they leave at least one of the two at 40 for another year at least. That's all the time I've got left. Of course, not like there is anything I can do about it either way, I was just wondering. I had been sort of counting mainly on BPA as staying at 40 because that seemed like pretty much a constant - it has been that way for as long as I have known. But I see where you are coming from, maybe they will put it back to 37 due to not wanting higher risk older academy trainees with the COVID situation. I really hope they don't though.

[Page]

Anyway, I hope you don't think I am being an idiot or procrastinating for not just putting in my applications NOW while the cutoff is at 40. My reason for not applying for these jobs presently has nothing to do with anything under my control, long story short.

[HSIApplicant]

I’ve never seen something move so fast.

Was offered gs-9 tentatively.

[big_bob_69]

How fast are we talking?

[big_bob_69]

What sort of overtime could you expect as a first year GL-7 agent?

Edit: seeing where you can make up to $45k in overtime. I assume you're not going to see anywhere near that, right?

[battlewagon]

BP agents get BPAPRA. Once a year you elect for 8,9 or 10 hours you get paid extra pay accordingly (8 hours/0% extra, 9hr/12.5%, 10 hr/25%.

However this pay is flat rate. BP agents are exempt from OT laws.

You can't trade days arbitrarily with other agents just to get more hours. You have to work five days a week, or have leave in place of days. Sectors will often have surge operations and offer extra days to people so you can opt to give up one or both of your days off and work that day. However, again that day is flat rate. It still adds up because once you've been in and you're making $40/hr or more, it's a few hundred extra per day. But it'll blow your mind how many 8+ years in guys you talk to at muster who think those extra days they're working are time and a half. The defeat in their eyes when you show them the pay scales and do the math on their pay stub for them.

There have been talks in the past about block schedules or whatever you want to call them, 4/10s etc but not in place right now unless things changed very recently

[big_bob_69]

Thanks battlewagon. Been reading older posts and all your other info is very helpful too.

[fathitman]

45k OT money is more OFO than BP. OFO does the traditional OT double time since it is written into law for customs to get that money so unless they change the law they can't change our OT pay. BP got screwed out of money when they changed their system.

That being said hit 45k in OT is pretty easy when you work at a big port. If you work at a small or med port you will be lucky to hit 5k in OT for the year. Night diff and Sunday/Holiday pay is pretty nice as well. When you are a GS-12 it comes out to be around 15k+ in extra money every year.

[Page]

fathitman, do you know if CBPOs can do shift trades: pick up someone's shift for extra $$?

[Amelen14]

(Redacted)

[big_bob_69]

..........

[Amelen14]

(Redacted)